WEST HARTFORD, Conn.  –  The University of Hartford women's soccer team returns to the pitch in 2026 after coming off back-to-back Conference of New England (CNE) Championships and a first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2006. This year the Hawks will look different, but the goal remains the same which is competing for championships and the NCAA Tournament. 

Hartford would finish the 2025 season with a 14-4-2 record including a 7-3 conference record. The Hawks would clinch the #1 seed in the conference tournament before winning both the semifinals and championship to head to the NCAA tourney. Hartford would fall to the University of Rochester in the opening round to conclude their campaign.

RETURNING TALENT
Overall the Hawks will have 14 returners from last season coming back in 2026. Of the 14 returners, 12 made starts last year and nine scored either a goal or an assist. Hartford returns four all-conference selections from 2025 in sophomore Anastasia Nerney (Glocester, R.I.), senior Kathleen Brush (Wethersfield, Conn.), senior Reese Sadler (Newington, Conn.) and senior Mia Mangalji (Toronto, Ontario). 

Nerney ended the 2025 season with an impressive start to her collegiate career being named the CNE Rookie of the Year, CNE All-Conference 1st Team selection, and making multiple All-Region choices after her first year. Anastasia would start 20 games scoring 11 goals to go with nine assists with a total of 1511 minutes on the field. 

"Entering this season, there is a lot of excitement and enthusiasm from both returning and new players. Although we have a newer team, our goals remain the same as they were in past seasons. We continue to share the same values, work ethic, and drive that have led us to multiple conference championships, and this year will be no different."

Brush, who has been an All-Region choice in all three of her first three seasons, enters her senior year in 2026. Kathleen would score 10 goals with six assists in 1415 minutes in 2025 earning a CNE All-Conference 2nd Team bid. The senior captain is ready to continue the winning ways in her senior year. 

"With all the changes to the roster, we're still looking at the same goal to win championships and add another ring to the collection. Just because the roster changed doesn't mean that the effort and talent has dropped in any sense this team is so special and I can't wait to compete to go back to NCAA tournament."

Sadler continues to be a star in the defensive midfield for the Hawks starting all 21 games in 2025 with a pair of goals with an assist in 1716 minutes. Reese was awarded as a 2nd Team All-Conference selection as well as making an All-Region selection in 2025. 

"Entering this season, we are really excited and motivated to work hard and compete toward our goals of another great season and conference championship. We have a very strong and capable group of players who push each other and trust each other to play to our standards as a team and i'm looking forward to seeing what we can accomplish this season."

Mangalji returns to a defensive back-line that will look different this year. Last season, Mia had a breakout season earning a 3rd Team All-Conference choice, making 16 starts for a total of 1541 minutes. 

"Knowing our past success, we've set a high standard for this program that we want to continue this year. We want to maintain that standard by staying disciplined, trusting each other, and putting in the work every day. At the same time, we want to continue enjoying the game and playing for each other, which I think is a big part of what makes this team special and makes it a winning program."

PORTAL POTENTIAL
Hartford will have 14 newcomers to the team in 2026, but once again the Hawks will be adding some experienced options as well as a balance of freshmen ready to produce right away. Out of the 14 newbies, four come from other women's soccer programs with one coming from division one and three coming from division three play.

Sophomore Kaylee Benson (Higganum, Conn.) is the lone division one transfer coming from Wagner College. Benson appeared in 14 games for Wagner College in her freshman season playing a total of 355 minutes.

Junior Aiyanna Robles Sedano (Tolland, Conn.) comes in from the University of Mount Saint Vincent after spending her first year at Iona University. In 2025 Robles Sedano would play in 19 games making 14 starts and 969 total minutes. She would register 25 points on the season on 10 goals and five assists and would also notch a pair of game-winners. 

Junior Sara Rieger (Waxhaw, N.C.) comes to Hartford from across the city coming from Trinity College. Rieger appeared in 30 games for the Bantams over his two seasons at Trinity College making 11 starts with three goals and three assists in her career. Her lone game-winner came on October 8th against Eastern Connecticut State University when she scored twice in a 3-0 victory. 

Finally sophomore Julia Daly (Wethersfield, Conn.) joins from CNE rival Endicott College. Daly made one appearance for the Gulls playing 17 minutes in her first season scoring a goal in a 6-1 victory over Nichols College. 

FULL INCOMING CLASS
Goalkeepers (2): Alivia Garnett (North Haven, Conn.), Madelyn Nunnemacher (Sutton, Mass.)
Defenders (2): Alyssa Koczak (Canton, Conn.), Julia Daly (Wethersfield, Conn.)
Midfiedlers / Defenders (2): Olivia Fuimara (Trumbull, Conn.), Gianna Terranova (Stonington, Conn.)
Midfielders (2): Tessa Mulvey (Arlington, Mass.), Sierra Ferrabelo (South Windsor, Conn.)
Forward / Midfielders (2): Aiyanna Robles Sedano (Tolland, Conn.), Olivia Mather (Middleborough, Mass.)
Forward (4): Kaylee Benson (Higganum, Conn.), Sara Rieger (Waxhaw, N.C.), Taylor Freimuth (Terryville, Conn.), Adriana Spash (Westbrook, Conn.)

SEASON OUTLOOK
The reigning back-to-back Conference of New England (CNE) champions will be challenged early in the season heading to New Jersey in the first week of September to take on Stevens and Montclair State University. The Ducks and the Red Hawks combined for a 25-5-12 record, while both making appearances in the NCAA Tournament in 2025. 

Hartford will host its first game on September 6th at 3:00 PM against Emmanuel College who won the GNAC and also made an NCAA appearance in 2025. Overall in non-conference play five of the seven teams held records over .500 in 2025. The Hawks will take on teams from six different conferences in non-league play with the MAC, NJAC, GNAC, NEWMAC, LEC  and NESCAC featured. 

CNE play kicks off on September 12th at 4:00 PM as the Hawks take on Gordon College. In total Hartford will play 10 league games in 2026. The home conference schedule will be a tall order this year as the Hawks will host four of the top five seeds from the 2025 with only one home CNE match featuring a team that did not make the playoffs last season. UHart will host the University of New England on September 19th at 3:00 PM to kick off the home CNE slate. The Hawks will be looking to capture its third consecutive CNE title as well as its second-straight NCAA Tournament appearance. The last time the women's soccer team made the NCAA tournament in back-to-back seasons was in 2001 and 2002 part of a six-year stretch where the Hawks were in the NCAA tournament every year. 

This year all home games will be streamed on the CNE Network powered by HUDL, while other game coverage can be found on the 2026 schedule home page.

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