WEST CHESTER, Pa.-Following another NCAA Tournament appearance to conclude the 2025 season, the West Chester University softball team heads into 2026 looking to build off its success from a season ago. West Chester is set to open its season this weekend in North Carolina with a pair of split doubleheaders on Friday and Saturday against Fairmont State and Barton. West Chester will get its season underway on Friday afternoon against Fairmont State at 12 p.m. before facing host Barton at 2:30. West Chester will start its Saturday against Fairmont State at 9:30 before facing Barton again at 12 p.m. to conclude its opening weekend trip.
"We are as excited as ever, if not even more so, to get going this season," started Lokey. "This is the first time in a few years that we have had this kind of winter and really haven't been able to get outside and on the field before we open up, so we are excited to see what we look like on the field in weather that is above 45 degrees. We've looked pretty good in practice from what we've been able to see, especially in the last few weeks. We've been making a big effort to be more intentional about everything we are doing this season and making sure we aren't just going through the motions when we are practicing."
Looking Back
Despite missing out on a return trip to Quakertown, West Chester did advance to the NCAA Tournament and finished the year 33-19 overall after dropping a marathon game against Shippensburg on the opening day of the Tournament before staving off elimination against Bowie State with a 5-4 comeback victory. The Golden Rams saw their season come to a close with a 2-1 loss to host East Stroudsburg on the strength of a two-run first inning by the Warrior offense.
Preseason Prognostications
West Chester was picked fifth in the PSAC preseason coaches poll released in late January. East Stroudsburg and Slippery Rock are the Preseason favorites to win the PSAC East and PSAC West. Ahead of West Chester in the PSAC East preseason poll was Shippensburg, Shepherd, and Kutztown, while the Golden Rams were followed by Bloomsburg, Millersville, Lock Haven, and Mansfield. The full release is available
here.
Lokey made sure her team was aware that the goal in 2026 was to do more than just find a way back to the PSAC Tournament as the fifth and final team in from the PSAC East, as predicted in the Coaches Poll. Lokey said, "When the poll came out with us in fifth after not making PSACs last Spring, I went to this group and reminded them that finishing fifth is just average, and we can't be ok with just being average. The East is a really tough division year in year out, so an average season can mean the season wraps up early, which none of us want. With that in mind, we know that we need to make sure we are having intentional, competitive practices every day and all of our goals will be right in front of us by the time May comes around."
Flock Talk
West Chester returns all three of its PSAC East All-Conference selections from last Spring, headlined by First Team honoree
Danielle Ciliberto (Ambler, Pa./Wissahickon), along with
Paige Marabell (Tunkhannock, Pa./Tunkhannock) and
Mairead Hopkins (West Chester, Pa./Rustin), who earned Second Team honors. Marabell was also a consensus Second Team All-Region honoree as she was recognized by both the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) and the Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA).
In the circle, Ciliberto headlines the Golden Rams returning group as she finished her junior season with a record of 18-7 overall and a 1.82 ERA, a 1.14 WHIP, and a .258 batting average against. Ciliberto made 40 appearances and 26 starts last year, logging 12 complete games and three shutouts along with three saves for 165.1 innings of work, striking out 104 over those 165.1 innings of action. This effort, coupled with outstanding performances in each of her first two seasons in the circle, has Ciliberto atop the career saves list with 13, while she is fifth in career wins (54-22), fourth in shutouts (13), fourth in strikeouts (345), and seventh in innings pitched (493.0). In addition to her efforts in the circle, Ciliberto is also one of the top returning bats for West Chester after batting .315 last spring with 41 hits, including five doubles and three home runs, driving in 25 runs, while scoring 18 more.
"Danielle has had a tremendous career," acknowledged Lokey. "She is such a hard worker that I know she'll do what she needs to do to have a great senior season both in the circle and at the plate. We've really seen her develop over the years and get better at being strong every outing and coming out pitching well right away."
Ciliberto is part of a strong stable of arms for the Golden Rams as West Chester will feature six pitchers in 2026 to help mitigate the departure of
Makenzie Edwards, who starred for the Golden Rams throughout her four-year career. Fellow returners include
Alyssa Tooley (Horsham, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham), Jaelyn Silfies (Bangor, Pa./Bangor), and Rhiannon Henry (Lancaster, Pa./Conestoga Valley), along with
Meg Farrell (Sinking Spring, Pa./Wilson), while West Chester also welcomes a new arm in
Maci Strechay (Collegeville, Pa./Perkiomen Valley). Of the quartet of returners alongside Ciliberto, Tooley saw the host time as a freshman a year ago with 18 appearances and five starts, posting a record of 5-2 with a 2.93 ERA, a 1.40 WHIP, and a .261 batting average against with 29 strikeouts in 40.2 innings of work. Tooley pitched one complete game, had a hand in a shutout, and also recorded a save in her rookie season. Silfies and Henry also saw time a year ago, appearing in four games, but both recorded less than 10 innings in the circle, pitching 9.1 and 6.1 innings, respectively.
"The whole staff has been working hard," opened Lokey when asked about her pitching staff as a whole." We have a new pitching coach, Hayley Tamaro, who has been doing great work with them, and we've seen strong growth across the board from our returners. Maci (Strechay) had a really good fall, so we are looking forward to seeing how she matures this season as she learns more about the college game. With young pitchers, there is always an adjustment to be made as they start facing college hitters regularly. A big part of that is getting better at hitting their spots and being careful about location, which is always an adjustment from high school when their stuff is usually good enough regardless of location. We've seen the returners improve on this throughout their career, and it is something we will see Maci work on throughout the season," explained Lokey.
Behind the plate receiving pitches from the Golden Ram hurlers is a group of catchers, highlighted by returning All-Region pick Marabell and
Holly Muni (Hamilton Square, N.J/Allentown), who the Golden Rams expect to see more time behind the dish in 2026. Marabell finished second on the team in batting average at .340 on the year with a team-best 13 home runs, along with 13 doubles and a triple for 27 of her 53 hits on the year. In her sophomore season, Marabell drove in 48 runs and scored 19 more, finishing the year with a .686 slugging percentage and a .416 on-base percentage. In her rookie season as a Golden Ram, Muni appeared in 29 games with 16 starts and logged a .275 batting average and 11 hits, including two doubles and two home runs. Marabell and Muni were both strong defensively behind the plate last year as well, helping to catch six would-be base stealers and posting .995 and .983 fielding percentages with less than three passed balls charged against each of them.
Alongside Marabell and Muni are a number of talented options, including junior
Lauren Daniels (Drums, Pa./Hazleton) and newcomer
Samantha Friscia (Scotch Plains, N.J./Scotch Plains-Fanwood).
"I'm really excited about this group," said Lokey. "It's great to have an experienced core, and we have exactly that with three returning catchers, who are all still relatively young as juniors and a sophomore. Sam (Frescia) has been working hard to make the transition to college softball as well, so we are excited to see more of her. That whole group has been working really hard early on this season, and I'm excited to see what I think will be a strong year behind the plate."
The Golden Ram infield is the group that Lokey expressed she would like to see the most improvement from in 2026, after some troubling moments a season ago.
"On paper, we have a mostly returning infield except for first base after the graduation of
Casey Best," said Lokey. "That group knows I wasn't always happy with how we played last year and the way we took care of the ball. That's been a major emphasis for us early on this spring, making sure we take care of the ball and are making the places we need to make."
Beginning at third base, West Chester returns the duo of
Gia Borelli (Wyomissing, Pa./Wilson) and one of two captains,
Lauryn Kane (Plymouth Meeting, Pa./Plymouth Whitemarsh), who split time at the hot corner last season. Borelli saw limited plate appearances when playing third a year ago, frequently playing in the flex, while Kane posted a .256 batting average with 40 hits, including 12 doubles, two triples, and two runs in 156 plate appearances. She drove in 29 runs and scored 19 more, posting a .701 OPS in her 50 appearances and 49 starts last Spring. Lokey noted the arrival of transfers
Ceara O'Neal (Hamilton, N.J./Steinert) and
Alexa Paradis (Newbury Park, Cal./Newbury Park), who are also fighting for the starting job at third.
In the middle infield, West Chester returns several familiar names, including starting shortstop
Julia Miller (Moorestown, N.J./Moorestown), who enjoyed a strong rookie season with a .277 batting average, 38 hits in 137 at-bats, three doubles, and a triple, while driving in 18 runs and scoring 25 more. Miller is also the Golden Rams returning stolen base leader after swiping 10 bags on 14 attempts last Spring. At second base, West Chester had a platoon situation last year with several names filling that role, including
Kayla Fitzpatrick (Carle Place, N.Y./Sacred Heart Academy), Natalie Colwell (Mount Joy, Pa./Donegal), and Gianna Licairdello (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Carroll), who may all see time at second again this season. West Chester may also turn to O'Neal to play up the middle along with
Abby McFarland (Wilmington, Del./Brandywine) or
Avelyn Van Heyst (Aaronsburg, Pa./Penns Valley), who transferred into West Chester for her final season from Buffalo. Lokey noted that Van Heyst is a true utility player who may see time at West Chester anywhere in the infield, from third to first, depending on the need on a given day.
Asked about the addition of Van Heyst, who had started at Division I Buffalo and will finish her eligibility in West Chester, Lokey said, "She is a great utility option for us in that we feel confident in her playing anywhere in the infield. She is really good on the mental side of the game as well and is a great energy, communication player for us, who, along with our catcher, can help take charge in the infield."
The starting job at first base brings the most questions for West Chester as the new season gets underway on Friday, as the Golden Rams need to replace a multi-year starter at first in Best. Lokey identified a host of players who may fill this role, including the possibility that Marabell could move from behind the plate to first, as Best did a few seasons ago. Heidi McCollester is another former Golden Ram catcher who successfully moved to first base and, like Best, provided strong defense and a steady bat in 2018 and 2019, respectively. Along with Marabell,
Riley Wiercinski (Avondale, Pa./Avon Grove), Sabrie Purnell (New Castle, Del./William Penn), Roxy Smithson (Lititz, Pa./Warwick), Paradis, and Van Heyst could all contribute at this position in 2026.
The Golden Ram outfield, which includes the likes of captain Hopkins,
Tess Kearney (Hatboro, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham), Emma Zoldi (Newtown, Pa./Council Rock North), Ella Heap (York, Pa./Central York), Presley Foote (Yardley, Pa./Pennsbury) and Paige Butland (Wakefield, Ma./Wakefield) as returners, along with another transfer in
Deanna DeCaro (Hopewell Junction, N.Y./John Jay) and newcomer
Megan Donnelly (Marlton, N.J./Cherokee) is another group that Lokey will be looking for continued progress from in 2026.
Zoldi, Kearney, and Hopkins are expected to make up the starting outfield in left, center, and right, respectively, although Lokey was intrigued by all of her outfield options for the 2026 season.
"This group has been putting in strong work and is a unit that I'll be looking to see step up and come through in some big moments for us this season, whether that is a great play defensively or a hit in a big spot."
Hopkins, who led West Chester offensively once again a year ago after a breakout sophomore campaign with a .345 batting average with 61 in 177 at-bats, including a team-best 17 doubles and nine home runs, is an excellent place to start for Lokey and the Golden Rams in search of that player to come through with a big hit. Hopkins scored 39 runs and drove in 34 more last season, finishing the year as one of two players with an OPS north of 1.000 (1.022), trailing only Marabell, who posted a 1.102 OPS in her sophomore season. Hopkins and Marabell are tied for fifth in career home runs with 21 each and will both be looking to continue their climb on this list in 2026. Asked about the career of Hopkins, which began with limited time in her rookie season, before turning in outstanding seasons as a sophomore and junior, Lokey said, "Hop (
Mairead Hopkins) is a great player on and off the field for us, and I truly wish her nothing but the best this season. She works so hard, and she has seen that pay dividends already, so I'm excited to see it continue in her final season this Spring."
Alongside Hopkins in center will be Kearney, as she enters the season as the starting center fielder for the third year in a row after a promising fall campaign. "Tess had an awesome fall," said Lokey. "I remember saying to one of our coaches during a fall game that it looks like it has finally really come together for her this season. She made some amazing catches on the balls that she might not have gotten to in previous seasons and a really strong fall at the plate, so we are excited for a potential breakout season from her in 2026."
Across the diamond, a consistent message from Lokey about her returning cast was, "We are looking for who is going to get to the next level and be that IT player for us this season. We keep talking about that with our juniors and seniors, especially, and want to see them want to take that next step, understanding that preparation should breed confidence, and they need to have that confident mindset each time they take the field."
Check out the Golden Rams 2026 roster
here.
The Slate
After opening its season in North Carolina with Fairmont State and Barton this weekend, West Chester will return home to host Goldey Beacom, Jefferson, and Felician before heading to Florida for The Space Coast Games against Southern New Hampshire, Bentley, Indianapolis, Winona State, Nova Southeastern, Franklin Pierce, and Malone. West Chester will return north to host Wilmington on March 16 before visiting Holy Family on March 18.
The Golden Rams will open PSAC East play against Lock Haven and Millersville on March 21 and 24 at home before heading to Mansfield for their first road set of East play at Mansfield. West Chester will conclude its regular season at home on May 2 when Bloomsburg comes to West Chester for Senior Day, beginning at 1 p.m.
With a strong regular season, West Chester's postseason journey should begin in Binghamton, New York, as the PSAC Tournament departs Quakertown for the first time since 2021, when it was played on campus sites as college athletics emerged from COVID-19. The 2026 PSAC Tournament will be held at Grand Slam Parkin Binghamton, New York, beginning on May 6 and concluding on May 9.
Check out the Golden Rams' full 2026 schedule
here.
Up Next
West Chester will return from North Carolina with hopes of playing multiple games in Pennsylvania before heading to Florida for a Spring Break slate that begins on March 7. West Chester is slated to host Goldey Beacom on Friday, February 27
th, Jefferson on Saturday, February 28
th, and Felician on Wednesday, March 4, if Mother Nature permits.
