SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University lacrosse team opens its 2026 campaign this week with a nonconference home game Wednesday afternoon against Wheeling.
 
The Raiders will look to build upon the tremendous strides they made last season as they attempt to shoulder their way into the top half of the ultra-competitive Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division.
 
For head coach Brooke DellaValle, a big focus during preseason practices has been doing everything with a purpose.
 
"When we go onto that field, every step matters. Every groundball, every draw control matters, every shot matters," DellaValle stated. "When you are cutting and maybe you aren't seeing the ball, you are going to go with speed and pull that defender with you. The little things matter to us, and they make the big things happen. That's something that we live by."
 
The 2026 roster features a large, talented group of 10 first-year student-athletes. Coach DellaValle, along with the players, noted a vital part of preseason has been integrating them into the mix.
 
"We have a great group of upperclassmen that have been super inviting and shown the first years the way, DellaValle said. "Showing them how we do things, how practices run, the ins and the outs, the energy that we need. They have set the example, and the first years have gone right along with them."
 
"They have worked with our team as if they've been here for years," senior team captain Shannon Wood said of the first years. "Since there are so many of them, we really stress communication. We have gotten so much better at that, and we really recognize each other's strengths."
 
One word many players used to describe this year's group is 'gritty.' They want to be tough to play against, and make things difficult for the traditional powers in the PSAC East.
 
"We are really keen on being accountable, playing gritty and having energy," mentioned senior captain Grace DeMarzio. "We also emphasize being a family, working for one another and just being one unit. Especially when you are bringing in all these new people, [the seniors] had make sure that they felt comfortable and make sure they embody what we are as SHIP Lacrosse." 
 
DeMarzio added, "We are very confident that anyone coming in off the bench can produce for this team. We have a lot of new midfielders and attackers, which makes us more unpredictable."
 

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Schedule
 
After hosting Wheeling, the Raiders will continue its nonconference slate with Saturday afternoon games at Georgian Court (Feb. 21) and at home against Jefferson (Feb. 28).
 
The Raiders will begin March with a midweek road date at Lock Haven (now a member of the PSAC West) before wrapping up its nonconference slate Saturday, Mar. 7 at Frostburg State.
 
Shippensburg begins its PSAC schedule Wednesday, March 11 at home against Bloomsburg.
 
Coaching Staff
 
Brooke DellaValle, the reigning PSAC East Coach of the Year, is in her third season as the head coach of the Shippensburg University lacrosse program.
 
Last season, DellaValle became just the third Raider lacrosse coach to be recognized by the conference with its top coaching honor, joining Bertie Landes (2006) and Deb Tweed (1995).
 
SU improved its win total by four games in DellaValle's second season in charge and its eight victories were its most in 11 years.
 
SU's five-game win streak during the season marked its longest since April 2004. Additionally, Shippensburg posted its first positive goal differential in a season since 2012, scoring 207 goals while allowing 202 (48 fewer than last season).
 
Stacy Needle is in her second season serving as assistant coach.
 
Notes
 
Shippensburg posted an 8-9 record in 2025, doubling its win total for the second straight season.
 
The Raiders return a total of 16 players from last year's squad and welcome a class of 12 total newcomers.
 
From an athletic eligibility perspective, the team has one graduate, five seniors, six juniors, six sophomores, and ten freshmen.
 
Among the returning players are two All-PSAC performers from 2025: Grace DeMarzio and Ali Pioli.
 
DeMarzio, an All-PSAC First Team defender, ranked sixth in the PSAC in groundballs (51). Through three seasons, DeMarzio is tied for seventh in school history for career draw controls (135) and ninth in career caused turnovers (60).
 
Pioli, an All-PSAC Second Team midfielder in 2025, totaled 27 assists last season, which were eighth most in a single season in school history. Through three seasons, she already ranks third in school history with 191 career draw controls.
 
SU's top returning goal scorer is Maddie Phommachanh, who totaled 36 goals last season.
 
From an athletic eligibility perspective, the team has one graduate, five seniors, six juniors, six sophomores, and ten freshmen.
 
Position Breakdown (This listing is tentative entering the season and subject to change. Several players may rotate between positions; this listing is sorted by their expected primary position on the field.)
 
Goalkeepers (2): Leah Cramer, Izzy Sawicki
 
Defenders (4): Shawn Coombs, Grace DeMarzio, Bri Koehler, Emily Lapinsky
 
Midfielders (10): Jill Ahlgren, Aubrey Bailey, Allie Dunn, Brynn Hauck, Jordan Markey, Avery Meeks, Maddie Phommachanh, Ali Pioli, Juliana Primrose, Hanna Woolf
 
Forwards (12): Alexa Bailey, Natalie Burton, Ava Collins, Sydney Fowler, Olivia Glinski, Ryleigh Hooper, Lexi Kox, Caroline Marengo, Erin Reedy, Grace Schaffner, Abby Schwartz-Mitchell, Shannon Wood
 
Home Breakdown
 
Pennsylvania (20)
Jill Ahlgren (Mercersburg, Pa./Mercersburg Academy (Wilson))
Alexa Bailey (West Chester, Pa./Pennridge)
Aubrey Bailey (Perkasie, Pa./Pennridge)
Ava Collins (Fogelsville, Pa./Northwestern Lehigh)
Leah Cramer (Lititz, Pa./Manheim Township)
Grace DeMarzio (Harleysville, Pa./Souderton Area)
Allie Dunn (Hanover, Pa./South Western)
Sydney Fowler (Stewartstown, Pa./Kennard-Dale)
Olivia Glinski (New Cumberland, Pa./Red Land)
Brynn Hauck (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township)
Bri Koehler (Lebanon, Pa./Cedar Crest)
Emily Lapinsky (Lancaster, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg)
Caroline Marengo (Wayne, Pa./Conestoga)
Jordan Markey (York, Pa./Dallastown Area)
Ali Pioli (Barto, Pa./Boyertown Area)
Erin Reedy (Phoenixville, Pa./Phoenixville Area)
Izzy Sawicki (Glenmoore, Pa./Bishop Shanahan (Alabama-Huntsville))
Grace Schaffner (Collegeville, Pa./Perkiomen Valley)
Shannon Wood (Glen Mills, Pa./Archbishop Carroll)
Hanna Woolf (Chambersburg, Pa./Chambersburg Area)
 
Maryland (6)
Natalie Burton (Havre de Grace, Md./Havre de Grace)
Shawn Coombs (Woodbine, Md./Glenelg)
Ryleigh Hooper (Chesapeake Beach, Md./Huntingtown)
Maddie Phommachanh (Salisbury, Md./Parkside)
Juliana Primrose (Westminster, Md./Delone Catholic (Pa.))
Abby Schwartz-Mitchell (Parkville, Md./Eastern Technical)
 
New Jersey (1)
Lexi Koz (Florence, N.J./Northern Burlington)
 
Viriginia (1)
Avery Meeks (Alexandria, Va./Hayfield Secondary)