No. 1 Ranked St. Anthony’s Friars Team Preview

At number one in the LILJ top 26 preseason rankings it’s the Friars of St. Anthony’s. They enter the season coming off of back-to-back undefeated seasons and have a winning streak of 48 straight games dating back to 2023. The team finds itself in familiar territory — talented, disciplined, and once again loaded with returning experience. After another year of running the table and closing it out with another CSHAA Championship, the Friars will look to blend this year’s senior class with the program’s next wave of playmakers, continuing the standard that has made them the premier program in the country under third year head coach Darcy Messina.

The biggest losses come from a strong Class of 2025 that accounted for significant production across all areas of the field. On offense, Katherine Rathjen was a centerpiece, finishing with an outstanding 67 points, while Molly Hiney dominated the midfield with 57 points, strong draw work, and relentless two-way play. Emma Toner and Peighton McNulty provided secondary scoring. Defensively, the Friars graduate key depth pieces including Julia May O’Connor, Analisa La Monica, and Devan Lange, while starting goaltender Jessica Black was also part of last year’s senior class.

Despite those departures, the Class of 2026 is stacked with proven varsity contributors and will drive expectations this spring. Emma Speed (Florida) returns as one of the most dangerous offensive players on the island after posting a team-high 75 points scoring 51 goals and dishing out 24 assists, while Anna Christie (Notre Dame) brings versatility as an attacker/midfielder coming off of a 45-point season. Cameron Pupke (Princeton) and Meadow Szillus (Stony Brook) add another layer of offense from the midfield, and Madison Sussi (UMass) provides scoring balance around the crease.

Defensively, St. Anthony’s brings back an experienced and cohesive unit filled with seniors. Sophia Novelli (Vanderbilt), Kelsey Gorman (Siena), and Meghan Langton (American), anchor the back line after standout junior seasons. In goal, Gabriella Lemieux (LIU) and Sophia Moschitta (Stony Brook) have the potential for expanded roles this season as the two returning goalies from last year.

This winter the Friars took part in the LILJ winter league helping them gear up for the spring where they went 4-1-1 in six games against some of the top high school programs on the island. With a deep senior class, proven scorers, and defensive stability, along with new faces this year that will have a chance to make a name for themselves, St. Anthony’s once again looks primed to compete at the highest level. If the Friars can replace their graduated leadership while continuing to lean on their lockdown defense and efficient offense, they have all the tools necessary to retain their status as the nation’s number one team. They begin the regular season with a rematch of last year’s championship game against St. Dominic on 3/27.