The Lancaster Bible College Field Hockey team is set for the 2026 season as they prepare for a 14-game regular season slate with seven United East Conference contests. The Chargers are led by second-year head coach Kevin Hertzog and are coming off a 1-3 conference finish and a United East Semifinal appearance in the postseason. The Chargers will look to improve upon their last campaign in a seven-team United East field with the additions of Gwynedd Mercy and Immaculata as associate members, playing a total of nine home games on Donald H. Funk Field at Willis & Martha Herr Stadium to just five road games this year.
 
The Chargers are returning seven players from last year's roster including two 2025 All-Conference selections, starting with Riley Danko (Sr.) who collected United East First Team honors in the midfield. Danko powered the Chargers' offense last season, leading the team in every offensive category including five goals, four assists, 14 total points, and 18 shots on goal. Riley is currently the Chargers' all-time leader in career assists with 10 across three seasons, looking to add to that total this year. Rebekah Hoover (So.) also returns after earning All-Conference Second Team honors as a freshman in 2025, playing defense for LBC as well as pushing the line on offense. Hoover scored three times for the Chargers last season with six total shots on goal. As a team, the Chargers are returning over 78% of their total offense from 2025, including a pair of second-year players in Bailey Simmons (So.) and Ayla Zwally (So.) who combined for three goals and four assists as freshmen. In addition, the Chargers have six total incoming players for this season to boost their roster heading into the year.
 
Lancaster Bible opens up the 2026 season at home on Friday, September 4 as they host Houghton at 4:00 p.m., followed by another home game on Saturday, September 5 against Eastern Mennonite at 11:00 a.m. After hosting Widener on Wednesday, September 9, the Chargers play their first road game of the year at Goucher the following week on September 16, then return home for a matchup with Moravian on Saturday, September 19 for LBC Homecoming Weekend. The Chargers then have two more non-conference matchups at Eastern (Sept. 26) and vs King's (Pa.) (Sept. 30) before opening up United East competition on Saturday, October 3 as they host Cedar Crest at 11:00 a.m. LBC has two more United East home games the next week as they host new conference opponent Immaculata on Wednesday, October 7 and Penn St. Harrisburg on Saturday, October 10. The Chargers then face a tough three-game road stretch to end the regular season as they travel to new United East opponent Gwynedd Mercy (Oct. 13), Wilson (Oct. 17), and reigning United East champions St. Mary's (Md.) (Oct. 21) all in a nine-day stretch. The conference postseason gets underway on Saturday, October 31 as the top six teams qualify for the playoffs to determine this year's United East champion.
 
Head coach Kevin Hertzog had this to say about his team's 2026 outlook:
 
"While our roster may be smaller this season, I am confident in the group we have and excited to see our returning players mesh with the newcomers. The team has put in a tremendous amount of work throughout the summer, and I expect that commitment to continue as we move through the season.
 
We are also fortunate to have a home-heavy schedule, which will allow us to play in front of our supporters often. My hope is that we continue building on the progress we made last year through hard work, intentionality, and our purpose in Christ. If we remain united on and off the field, I believe success will follow in every aspect of our program."
 
The Chargers have their first home game of the year next Friday, September 4 as they take on Houghton at 4:00 p.m. on Donald H. Funk Field at Willis & Martha Herr Stadium. To follow along with the Field Hockey team and all of LBC's athletic programs, view this link to the 2026 Field Hockey Schedule and follow the Chargers on Instagram at lbcathletics.