Medina Enters 2026 Field Hockey Season With Youth, Passion and Six Returning Starters

Overview

• Medina brings back six returning starters, according to Cleaveland, and the coach described the team’s outlook as “competitive.”
• Cleaveland pointed to “youth and passion” as Medina’s biggest strength and said the team wants to establish an identity built on playing “with heart.”
• Jenelle Stalker returns after eight goals and four assists in 2025; Savannah Jo Thompson added four goals and two assists.
• Medina opens Sept. 8 at Nardin, plays its home opener Sept. 15 against Kenmore and closes the regular-season schedule Oct. 23 at Buffalo Academy of Science.

Medina Enters 2026 Field Hockey Season With Youth, Passion and Six Returning Starters

Medina head coach Amber Cleaveland kept the preseason outlook direct.

“Competitive,” Cleaveland said when asked what people should expect from the 2026 team.

Cleaveland brings 13 years as Medina’s head varsity coach, and this year’s group gives her a foundation of six returning starters. The next step is shaping a young team around the qualities she wants to see every day: passion, speed, stick handling and a willingness to play “with heart.”

The goal is clear, too. Cleaveland said Medina wants to “be competitive and succeed in playoffs.”

Players to Watch

Jenelle Stalker is one of the names at the center of that push. Cleaveland identified Stalker as Medina’s best candidate for a breakout season, and the junior midfielder already has a strong statistical base after producing eight goals and four assists as a sophomore in 2025.

Savannah Jo Thompson is another player Cleaveland expects to take on a larger role. Thompson, a sophomore forward, had four goals and two assists as a freshman in 2025, giving Medina another returning scoring option as the attack looks to create chances with speed and stick handling.

Isabelle Perez will be especially important in the midfield. Cleaveland named Perez as the engine of Medina’s midfield and also listed her as one of the team’s primary leaders. Perez is a senior midfielder.

Senior defender Adelynne Lacy is also listed by Cleaveland among Medina’s primary leaders. Lacy brings experience on the back line and contributed one goal and one defensive save in 2025.

In goal, Cleaveland said Medina has “a second year returning starter.” The roster lists junior Madison Zeiner at goalkeeper, and Zeiner’s 2025 line included 44 saves across 555 minutes.

Schedule Landmarks

Medina opens the season Sept. 8 at Nardin before traveling to Akron on Sept. 10. The first home game on the schedule is Sept. 15 against Kenmore at Veterans Park in Medina.

The home schedule also includes Buffalo Academy of Science on Sept. 17, Newfane on Oct. 1, Akron on Oct. 3, Nardin on Oct. 8, Wilson on Oct. 13, Roy-Hart on Oct. 15 and Barker on Oct. 20.

Medina’s regular-season schedule closes with back-to-back road games: Oct. 22 at Newfane and Oct. 23 at Buffalo Academy of Science.