ANNVILLE, Pa. – Four All-Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom honorees are set to lead the 2026 Lebanon Valley College women's soccer team, as the squad looks to build upon its success from last fall. The program also begins a new era, welcoming Head Coach Sunny Gelnovatch as she starts her tenure at the College.
The Flying Dutchmen reached the postseason for the first time in three years last season and are ranked fourth out of nine teams in the 2026 MAC Freedom Women's Soccer Coaches' Preseason Poll. Lebanon Valley finished the 2025 season with a 13-4-2 overall record with a 4-2-1 mark in conference play.
Gelnovatch, the seventh Head Coach in program history, arrived in April after serving as the Head Coach at Mary Baldwin University for two seasons. She was also previously the Head Coach at Division II Lock Haven University for a year. Gelnovatch played collegiate soccer at Messiah University, where the midfielder was named an All-American and contributed to the Falcons winning a National Championship.
"I want to build off the success that the team had last season," Gelnovatch said. "We have a lot of great returning players and newcomers this year. I think it looks really positive moving forward. I'm ready to get after it and grow as a program."
The Dutchmen return 28 players, headlined by the returning 2025 All-MAC Freedom selections: senior forward Abrielle Miller, junior midfielder Megan Ressler, senior defender and midfielder Emilee Walborn, and junior goalkeeper Camryn Porter. Miller was also recognized on the United Soccer Coaches All-Region IV Team after leading the MAC Freedom with 32 points and tying for the best in the conference with four game-winning goals and eight assists. Ressler (two goals, five assists) will contribute to the program's offensive efforts as well, along with sophomore midfielder Jayme Beninda (four goals, eight assists).
Defensively, Porter is back for LVC after posting 57 saves, a .803 save percentage, and a 0.84 goals against average. The goalkeeper also delivered 10 shutouts, which set a school record, led the conference, and ranked tied for 18th in the nation. Walborn will join Porter to patrol the defensive zone, after starting all 19 games and playing an integral role in the team registering 12 shutout victories in 2025. The Dutchmen expect junior midfielder Meredith Mantione and senior defender and forward Sophia Floyd to make an impact defensively as well. Additionally, seven newcomers will join the team this year.
Lebanon Valley will open the season on Tuesday, Sept. 1, at 5 p.m., against Moravian University in Bethlehem. LVC will then host Elizabethtown College on Sunday, Sept. 6, at 1 p.m., for its first of eight home contests at Herbert Field this fall. The Flying Dutchmen will also host Stevenson University on Saturday, Sept. 19, for Senior Day at Herbert Field.
LVC will begin its MAC Freedom schedule on Saturday, Oct. 3, at 1 p.m., against Misericordia University at Herbert Field. Lebanon Valley will also host Stevens Institute of Technology on Saturday, Oct. 10, at 1 p.m., for Homecoming at Herbert Field. The program's full 2026 schedule can be found here.
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