SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (November 6, 2026) – The Conference of New England has released the 2026 Field Hockey postseason awards, seeing a pair of Golden Bears receive major awards, while five total student-athletes picked up All-Conference recognition. 

Sophomore sensation Mikayla Mrzywka earned Offensive Player of the Year honors for the Golden Bears this season, following up on her Rookie of the Year award last season. Mrzywka produced another 45-point season for Western New England, scoring 20 goals and adding five assists on the season. Mrzywka led the CNE in multiple offensive categories, including shots (96), shots on goal (69), goals scored (20), game-winning goals (5), and points (45). The Macedon, New York, native also leads the conference in goals per game (1.11), which sits 13^th in Division III, while her 2.50 points per game lead the conference and rank 18^th overall in Division III. Mrzywka had at least one point in 12 games this season and had multi-point efforts in 11 games this season. Mrzywka also earned All-Conference First Team honors this season at the forward position.

Head Coach Kyle Lyons has been named the Coach of the Year in the conference this season for the first time in her career. Lyons guided the Golden Bears to a 12-7 record this season and went 6-1 in Conference of New England action, tying for the top spot in the CNE this season and earning the second seed in the CNE Tournament, hosting a CNE Semifinal game for the first time under her leadership. Lyons led the Blue and Gold to a 7-3 record away from Golden Bear Stadium this season, the most wins on the road under her guidance. The eighth-year veteran head coach led the CNE Offensive Player of the Year this season, while five total Golden Bears were named to All-Conference Teams. 

Senior Analise Trani was named to the All-Conference First Team at the midfield position for the first time and takes All-Conference honors for the third time overall. Trani has been the anchor of the Western New England midfield during her time at WNE. In 2026, the Norwalk, Connecticut, native had a career-high in points, picking up a goal and seven assists. Trani played in and made starts in all 19 games for the Golden Bears on the year, taking 31 shots, putting 13 on goal. Over her four-year career as a Golden Bear, Trani played in and made starts in all 77 games, coming away with six goals and 14 assists, good for 26 career points.
Kamryn Miller had an impressive first year as a Golden Bear, leading the defensive core this season. Miller was named to the All-Conference First Team as a defender. Offensively, Miller picked up a goal and an assist this season, scoring her first career goal over No. 12 Wesleyan University on October 20. Defensively, Miller made nine defensive saves for the Golden Bears on the year, leading the CNE, while sitting fifth in Division III overall. 

Sophomore Maddie Ripley receives honors for the Golden Bears on the All-Conference second team at the midfield position. The WNE dual-sport athlete netted five goals on the season for the Blue and Gold, while adding a pair of assists, for 12 points, the second-most on the team. Ripley scored the eventual game-winning goal in a road victory over VTSU Castleton, her first career game-winner. Ripley played in and started 19 games on the season, taking 34 shots, putting 23 on goal. 

Goalkeeper Alex Tardugno earned a spot on the All-Conference third team, earning All-Conference recognition for the second straight season. Tardugno played in every minute of every game this season between the pipes. The WNE junior made a career-high 174 saves on the season, holding a .837 save percentage this season, which ranks first in the CNE and 10^th overall in Division III. Tardugno posted a 1.77 goals-against average, fourth-best in the conference, allowing just 34 goals this season. Tardugno averaged over nine saves per game, second-most in the conference, and had six games with double-digit saves during the year. Tardugno's season-high in saves came on September 16, recording 23 saves in a shutout victory over Keene State. 

The Western New England field hockey team wrapped up its 2026 season this past Wednesday, falling in the CNE Semifinal round to Roger Williams, 2-1, in an overtime contest. WNE posted a 12-7 record on the year.