West Seneca Looks To Lean On A Young, Competitive Core In 2026

Overview

• West Seneca graduated four seniors, and coach Kelli Ruchalski expects returning players to fill the important roles those departures leave.
• Ruchalski expects the midfield to be the team's biggest strength, with four veteran players entering their third or fourth varsity seasons.
• Seniors Juleigh Sundquist and Savanna Ciappa are primary leaders, and Ruchalski said both know the game and her system of play.
• Riley Gregoire is a larger-role contributor to watch after posting five goals and six assists in 2025.
• Schedule landmarks include five straight home dates to open the listed schedule, followed by late-September road games at Amherst, Orchard Park and Hamburg.

West Seneca Wants To Stay Competitive

West Seneca varsity field hockey enters the 2026 season with a small roster, a young group and a coach who still expects the team to make opponents work.

Kelli Ruchalski, now in her 20th year coaching West Seneca, said the program graduated four seniors from last season. Those players left holes, but Ruchalski expects the returners to grow into larger roles.

"We have a small, young group this season but I expect us to be very competitive," Ruchalski said.

Ruchalski has spent two decades building the program. Her own playing background includes college field hockey at SUNY Cortland and more recent experience with Team USA O35 IMC at the Master's World Cup.

Through The Midfield

Ruchalski pointed to the midfield as West Seneca's biggest strength entering the season. She said the group includes four veteran players in their third or fourth year on varsity.

Juleigh Sundquist is central to that picture. Ruchalski named Sundquist as a breakout candidate and as the engine of the midfield, where her work in transition, possession, defense and distribution will be important.

Sundquist had five assists in 2025, giving West Seneca a returning player with experience creating chances through the middle.

Savanna Ciappa joins Sundquist as one of the team's primary leaders. Ruchalski said Sundquist and Ciappa, both seniors, know the game and the system well enough to be major contributors.

West Seneca also has returning production around that midfield-and-front-line mix. Riley Gregoire is one player Ruchalski identified as ready for a larger role, and Gregoire returns after recording five goals and six assists in 2025. Gia LaBarbara, listed as a midfielder/defender, had three goals and two assists last season and was named by Ruchalski as a penalty-corner specialist. Juliana Vanegas added one goal and two assists in 2025.

Pressure In The Circle

Ruchalski wants West Seneca's attack to come from numbers and pressure.

She said she likes players to push up, with forwards and midfielders entering the circle and the defense positioned right outside it.

"The more pressure the better," Ruchalski said. "Any shot on cage is a good one. I'm not looking for the prettiest goal. any goal will work for me."

Communication, cutting and goal scoring are areas Ruchalski wants to see improve. She said West Seneca's biggest playmaker and leading scorer graduated, so replacing that production will be one of the season's central tasks.

The goalkeeper position is another area where West Seneca is looking for growth. Ruchalski said the team's goalie played behind last year's starter and will need to establish an identity while communicating with the defense.

Schedule Markers

West Seneca's listed schedule opens with five straight home games at West Seneca West High School's WS Stadium: Nichols on Sept. 3, Clarence on Sept. 8, Pioneer on Sept. 10, Eden on Sept. 14 and Iroquois on Sept. 18.

The first road stretch comes later in September, with games at Amherst on Sept. 22, Orchard Park on Sept. 23 and Hamburg on Sept. 25. West Seneca then returns home Sept. 28 against Williamsville North.

October includes road games at Lancaster, Williamsville South, Starpoint and Sweet Home, along with home dates against Holland/East Aurora and Williamsville East.

Ruchalski said she wants West Seneca to win at least half its games and put more goals on the board. Beyond the numbers, she wants the team's identity to be clear through its conditioning, endurance and edge.

"We will be the team that doesn't back down," Ruchalski said.

Fans can watch West Seneca games online through Hudl Fan.