WASHINGTON, Pa. – The Washington & Jefferson College field hockey team (1-12, 1-9) closed its 2026 season with a 5-1 loss to visiting Allegheny College (8-8, 6-4) in a North Coast Athletic Conference match Saturday afternoon at Cameron Stadium.
Despite the loss, the Presidents had a few individual accomplishments to celebrate. Junior goalie
Grace Erhard (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) finished with 12 saves. The total helped her become the second goalie in program history to surpass 300 career saves. Erhard also established a new single-season record for saves with 152 saves, which surpassed the previous record of 146 by Heather Browne in 2003.
Senior forward
Megan Brackney (Latrobe, Pa./Greater Latrobe) led the Presidents offensively with a goal and matching the team high with three shots. Junior midfielder
Jessica Nakanishi (Susanville, Calif./Lassen) added three shots.
Allegheny got on the scoreboard with an unassisted goal by Caroline Smith less than five minutes into the game. The Gators led by a 1-0 margin after the opening quarter.
The Gators added three goals, which included a pair of scores by Smith, in the second quarter. The hat trick was the first for Smith.
W&J scored less than five minutes into the third quarter. The Presidents recorded a penalty corner chance, which was followed by a pair of shots on target. The Presidents were awarded with a penalty stroke opportunity after some activity followed in front. Brackney stepped up for the stroke and earned a Senior Day memory to hold for a lifetime. Brackney buried the attempt inside the left side of the cage. The goal was the second of Brackney's collegiate career.
The Gators tallied a goal later in the third to conclude the scoring, as the two teams played through a scoreless final quarter of play.
Allegheny outpaced W&J by a 26-8 margin in shots (17-5 advantage in shots on goal). The Gators earned an 18-4 advantage in penalty corner chances.
The Presidents recognized Brackney and fellow senior
Tessa Charpentier (Eighty Four, Pa./Bentworth) prior to the contest for their hard work and dedication to the program.
