LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Lock Haven field hockey team is set to usher in a new era on Friday under first-year head coach Valerie Clarke when the Bald Eagles welcome Mercyhurst to Charlotte Smith Field.
 
The non-conference showdown is set for 5 p.m. in Lock Haven.
 
Opening Week
Lock Haven vs. Mercyhurst
When: Friday, Aug. 28, 5 p.m.
Where: Lock Haven, Pa. (Charlotte Smith Field)
Streaming | Live Stats
 
Lock Haven at Penn State
When: Sunday, Aug. 30
Where: University Park, Pa.
Streaming | Live Stats
 
Lock Haven Field Hockey
Roster | Schedule


 
Head Coach Valerie Clarke
Clarke was announced as the next head coach of the NCAA DI Bald Eagle field hockey program on May 6, 2026. 
 
Clarke joins The Haven after coaching at Converse University since 2018, where she built the upstart program into consistent conference contenders, including six straight postseason appearances and South Atlantic Conference (SAC) Tournament Championships in 2021 and 2022.
 
Clarke was named the Synapse.com National and SAC Coach of the Year in 2021, before guiding the Valkyries to their first-ever National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) ranking in 2022 as the No. 6 team in the country.
 
To read more on Clarke's journey, click here.



A Look Back at 2025 
Lock Haven finished the 2025 season with a 2-16 overall record and a 1-5 conference mark. The Bald Eagles went 1-7 at home, 1-8 on the road and 0-1 at a neutral site.
 
Lock Haven closed the season on a high note with back-to-back victories. The Bald Eagles earned a 1-0 road win at Saint Louis on Oct. 26 before closing the campaign with a 4-2 home victory over Mercyhurst on Nov. 2. The four goals against Mercyhurst marked the team's season high.
 
The Bald Eagles scored 13 goals and added 10 assists for 36 points. The Haven recorded 149 shots, including 70 on goal, while earning 92 penalty corners. The fourth quarter was the team's most productive offensive period, as the Bald Eagles scored four goals, attempted 62 shots and earned 36 penalty corners.
 
Melanie Beall led Lock Haven with three goals. Beall and Maddie Friend shared the team lead with six points, while Friend paced the Bald Eagles with 31 shots and 19 shots on goal. Kendall Siegle led the team with three assists, while Paula Sigley added two goals and one assist.
 
Eva Drumbore shared the team lead with four defensive saves, while Rylee Wassmer added two.


 
2026 Atlantic-10 (A-10) Preseason Coaches' Poll
A-10 Release
(First-place votes in parentheses)
1. Saint Joseph's - 44 points (4)
2. Richmond - 42 (1)
3. VCU - 37 (1)
4. Davidson - 30 (1)
5. La Salle - 19
6. Saint Louis - 15
7. Lock Haven - 9
 
The Road Ahead
Lock Haven hits the road for the first time on Sunday, Aug. 30 for a non-conference game at noon in University Park, Pa. vs. Penn State.
 
The Haven returns home on Sunday, Sept. 6 at noon to host Georgetown in a non-conference game at Charlotte Smith Field.