Semmartin, Saint Martin Garner BIG EAST Preseason Superlatives; Liberty Picked 1st
8/19/2026 10:12:00 AM | Field Hockey
LYNCHBURG, Va. – Liberty field hockey's Dara Semmartin (Preseason Defensive Player of the Year) and Diane Saint Martin (Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year) both garnered major honors in the BIG EAST Preseason Conference Awards, as voted on by the league's head coaches. They are two key reasons why the Lady Flames were picked to successfully defend their title in the 2026 BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll.
Semmartin and Saint Martin are joined on the Preseason All-BIG EAST team by forward Josefina Tomasi and defender/midfielder Julieta Tornati. The Lady Flames led all BIG EAST squads with four selections, two more than any other team.
This is the fourth time in the last five seasons that the Lady Flames have been tabbed to finish first in the BIG EAST preseason poll. Liberty garnered six of the seven available first-place votes and 36 points to top the listing. Connecticut, last year's BIG EAST runner-up, received the other first-place vote and 31 points for second place.
Semmartin, a junior from Buenos Aires, Argentina, earned 2025 BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year honors and was a NFHCA All-America second team honoree. She received numerous other awards: NFHCA All-South Region first team, All-BIG EAST first team, five-time BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week, BIG EAST All-Tournament team and two-time BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll.
Semmartin established a new program single-season record with 16 assists, which was tied for seventh nationally. She finished the year ninth in the country and first in the BIG EAST in assists per game (0.80). Semmartin added six goals and led the team with 26 points.
Saint Martin, a sophomore from Paris, France, is the reigning BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year after receiving the distinction as a freshman in 2025. Her list of other honors from last year include: All-BIG EAST first team, NFHCA All-South Region second team, BIG EAST All-Tournament team, NFHCA Division I Defensive Player of the Week, NFHCA Division I Defensive Player of the Week honorable mention, two-time BIG EAST Freshman of the Week, BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week and two-time BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll.
Saint Martin posted a 17-3 record and 0.88 goals-against average as a freshman, the best single-season goals-against average in program history. Her .775 save percentage ranked eighth nationally and second in the BIG EAST, and she added eight shutouts (tied for most in a season in school history) and 62 total saves. Saint Martin finished the year at No. 5 in the country and No. 1 in the BIG EAST in goals-against average (0.88) while also pacing the league and ranking No. 4 in the nation in goalie win-loss percentage (.850).
Tomasi, a junior from Cañada de Gómez, Argentina, was an NFHCA All-South Region first team selection last fall. She also earned All-BIG EAST second team recognition and garnered one BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week award. Tomasi concluded the 2025 campaign with seven goals (tied for No. 1 on team), five assists (No. 3 on team) and 19 points (No. 3 on team).
Tornati, a sophomore from Buenos Aires, Argentina, was an All-BIG EAST second team honoree last season. The defender/midfielder was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll on two occasions. She tallied five goals, three assists and 13 points and led the squad with three game-winning goals.
The 13-member Preseason All-BIG EAST squad features four defenders, four forwards, three midfielder and two goalkeepers. Semmartin and Saint Martin were two of only four unanimous selections and were joined by Old Dominion's Serena Langendoen and Providence's Bo Martina.
Rounding out the coaches' poll were Old Dominion (third, 23 points), Temple (fourth, 20 points), Villanova (fifth, 18 points), Providence (sixth, 13 points) and Georgetown (seventh, six points). Quinnipiac is no longer in the BIG EAST Conference after joining the NEC as an associate member.
Temple will host the 2026 BIG EAST Field Hockey Championship after Liberty hosted the tournament in 2025. The four-team championship will take place Nov. 6-8 at the Temple Sports Complex in Philadelphia, Pa. The winner of the tournament will receive an automatic berth into the 2026 NCAA Division I Field Hockey Championship.
Liberty will open its 2026 season at Maine on Aug. 28. Game time is noon from the UMaine Field Hockey Complex in Orono, Maine. The Lady Flames' first BIG EAST Conference game is on Sept. 25 at UConn.
2026 BIG EAST Field Hockey Preseason Honors
Preseason BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year
Ava Borkowski, 6th Yr., F, Villanova
Preseason BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year
Dara Semmartin, Jr., B, Liberty *
Preseason BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year
Bo Martina, Sr., M, Providence
Preseason BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year
Diane Saint Martin, So., GK, Liberty *
Preseason All-BIG EAST Team
Fien Hollander, B, UConn
Natalie McKenna, GK, UConn
Elena Perez Alejandro, M, Georgetown
Dara Semmartin, Jr., B, Liberty *
Diane Saint Martin, So., GK, Liberty *
Josefina Tomasi, Jr., F, Liberty
Julieta Tornati, So., B/M, Liberty
Josie Painter, Jr., F, Old Dominion
Serena Langendoen, Jr., B, Old Dominion *
Bo Martina, Sr., M, Providence *
Carly van Benten, Sr., F, Providence
Lucia Magro, So., M, Temple
Ava Borkowski, 6th Yr., F, Villanova
* Indicates a unanimous selection
^ Due to a tie in voting, there are 13 members on the preseason all-conference team.
2026 BIG EAST Field Hockey Preseason Coaches' Poll
(first-place votes)
1. Liberty – 36 points (6 first-place votes)
2. Connecticut – 31 points (1 first-place vote)
3. Old Dominion – 23 points
4. Temple – 20 points
5. Villanova – 18 points
6. Providence – 13 points
7. Georgetown – 6 points
Semmartin and Saint Martin are joined on the Preseason All-BIG EAST team by forward Josefina Tomasi and defender/midfielder Julieta Tornati. The Lady Flames led all BIG EAST squads with four selections, two more than any other team.
This is the fourth time in the last five seasons that the Lady Flames have been tabbed to finish first in the BIG EAST preseason poll. Liberty garnered six of the seven available first-place votes and 36 points to top the listing. Connecticut, last year's BIG EAST runner-up, received the other first-place vote and 31 points for second place.
Semmartin, a junior from Buenos Aires, Argentina, earned 2025 BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year honors and was a NFHCA All-America second team honoree. She received numerous other awards: NFHCA All-South Region first team, All-BIG EAST first team, five-time BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week, BIG EAST All-Tournament team and two-time BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll.
Semmartin established a new program single-season record with 16 assists, which was tied for seventh nationally. She finished the year ninth in the country and first in the BIG EAST in assists per game (0.80). Semmartin added six goals and led the team with 26 points.
Saint Martin, a sophomore from Paris, France, is the reigning BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year after receiving the distinction as a freshman in 2025. Her list of other honors from last year include: All-BIG EAST first team, NFHCA All-South Region second team, BIG EAST All-Tournament team, NFHCA Division I Defensive Player of the Week, NFHCA Division I Defensive Player of the Week honorable mention, two-time BIG EAST Freshman of the Week, BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week and two-time BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll.
Saint Martin posted a 17-3 record and 0.88 goals-against average as a freshman, the best single-season goals-against average in program history. Her .775 save percentage ranked eighth nationally and second in the BIG EAST, and she added eight shutouts (tied for most in a season in school history) and 62 total saves. Saint Martin finished the year at No. 5 in the country and No. 1 in the BIG EAST in goals-against average (0.88) while also pacing the league and ranking No. 4 in the nation in goalie win-loss percentage (.850).
Tomasi, a junior from Cañada de Gómez, Argentina, was an NFHCA All-South Region first team selection last fall. She also earned All-BIG EAST second team recognition and garnered one BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week award. Tomasi concluded the 2025 campaign with seven goals (tied for No. 1 on team), five assists (No. 3 on team) and 19 points (No. 3 on team).
Tornati, a sophomore from Buenos Aires, Argentina, was an All-BIG EAST second team honoree last season. The defender/midfielder was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll on two occasions. She tallied five goals, three assists and 13 points and led the squad with three game-winning goals.
The 13-member Preseason All-BIG EAST squad features four defenders, four forwards, three midfielder and two goalkeepers. Semmartin and Saint Martin were two of only four unanimous selections and were joined by Old Dominion's Serena Langendoen and Providence's Bo Martina.
Rounding out the coaches' poll were Old Dominion (third, 23 points), Temple (fourth, 20 points), Villanova (fifth, 18 points), Providence (sixth, 13 points) and Georgetown (seventh, six points). Quinnipiac is no longer in the BIG EAST Conference after joining the NEC as an associate member.
Temple will host the 2026 BIG EAST Field Hockey Championship after Liberty hosted the tournament in 2025. The four-team championship will take place Nov. 6-8 at the Temple Sports Complex in Philadelphia, Pa. The winner of the tournament will receive an automatic berth into the 2026 NCAA Division I Field Hockey Championship.
Liberty will open its 2026 season at Maine on Aug. 28. Game time is noon from the UMaine Field Hockey Complex in Orono, Maine. The Lady Flames' first BIG EAST Conference game is on Sept. 25 at UConn.
2026 BIG EAST Field Hockey Preseason Honors
Preseason BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year
Ava Borkowski, 6th Yr., F, Villanova
Preseason BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year
Dara Semmartin, Jr., B, Liberty *
Preseason BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year
Bo Martina, Sr., M, Providence
Preseason BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year
Diane Saint Martin, So., GK, Liberty *
Preseason All-BIG EAST Team
Fien Hollander, B, UConn
Natalie McKenna, GK, UConn
Elena Perez Alejandro, M, Georgetown
Dara Semmartin, Jr., B, Liberty *
Diane Saint Martin, So., GK, Liberty *
Josefina Tomasi, Jr., F, Liberty
Julieta Tornati, So., B/M, Liberty
Josie Painter, Jr., F, Old Dominion
Serena Langendoen, Jr., B, Old Dominion *
Bo Martina, Sr., M, Providence *
Carly van Benten, Sr., F, Providence
Lucia Magro, So., M, Temple
Ava Borkowski, 6th Yr., F, Villanova
* Indicates a unanimous selection
^ Due to a tie in voting, there are 13 members on the preseason all-conference team.
2026 BIG EAST Field Hockey Preseason Coaches' Poll
(first-place votes)
1. Liberty – 36 points (6 first-place votes)
2. Connecticut – 31 points (1 first-place vote)
3. Old Dominion – 23 points
4. Temple – 20 points
5. Villanova – 18 points
6. Providence – 13 points
7. Georgetown – 6 points
Players Mentioned
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