Abby Miller
Feb. 12, 2026
As the winter frost begins to fade, the transition to spring at Thiel College is marked not only by a change in the weather, but also by the return of Tomcat lacrosse. The action now expands beyond Maenpa Court and Stamm Complex and back onto the turf in the Rissell-Schreyer Dome as the men’s and women’s lacrosse teams prepare for their 2026 campaigns. The two teams enter their spring seasons with contrasting narratives as they step back onto the turf. The women’s team looks to continue with the success they found in the 2025 season with their veteran roster. For the men’s team, this spring isn’t just about their schedule, but a reset as they look to leave last season’s frustration in the rearview and build a new foundation with the help of a new head coach.
The Thiel men’s lacrosse team is joined by its first-year head coach, Alex Skvarch, who is now the fifth head coach in program history. A native of Marcellus, New York, Skvarch is an experienced athlete who was a four-year letter winner at Hartwick College, where he served as the lacrosse team captain for two years and was an All-League selection during his standout career. His career has showcased his “player-first” coaching perspective and an ability to balance athletic intensity with academic excellence. Skvarch previously served as the men’s lacrosse head coach at Walsh University. There, he developed 18 All-Conference players and a Goalkeeper of the Year, all while consistently leading teams to USILA All-Academic honors. As for the team, they are looking to find success this season, after their 1-14 record in 2025.
The President’s Athletic Conference (PAC) has named four Tomcats to watch this season. Topping the list of returners is senior Austin Parker, the Tomcats’ primary faceoff specialist. Last season, Parker went 42.2% from the midfield, winning 174 faceoffs and leading the team with 104 ground balls. This season, Parker’s ability to secure possessions will be vital in increasing offensive time. Defensively, the squad is anchored by junior goalkeeper Ethan Narby, an All-PAC Honorable Mention selection. Narby had a record-breaking 2025 season, leading the conference with 330 saves (averaging 22 per game). He currently sits third in the Thiel record books with 517 career stops, which he looks to only build upon this season. Supporting him on the defensive end is freshman Dom Baker, a dual-sport athlete from Mechanicsburg who brings the physicality of the Thiel football program onto the lacrosse field. On the attack is junior Logan Millie. Appearing in all 15 games in the 2025 season, Millie holds the title of the Tomcats’ leading scorer, with 20 goals and eight assists last season.
The women’s lacrosse team is looking to expand its success into the 2026 season with new head coach Marina Adelizzio, who previously served as the assistant coach for the last two seasons at Thiel College. Last spring, the women’s lacrosse team had an 11-5 record, making an appearance in the PAC Championship Tournament. Despite being ranked seventh in the PAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll, the veteran-led squad is looking to make a deep postseason run with a roster featuring four conference-recognized “Players to Watch” who are eager to outperform expectations. Senior Hayden Wightman was the source of the offensive firepower in the 2025 season with 21 goals and 7 assists for a team-high 28 points, all while maintaining a 43% shooting percentage. She looks to hold her title as the lead attacker alongside fellow senior Makayla Hall, a consistent presence whose experience last season proved to provide strength to the Tomcats’ front line. On the defense are seniors Aidrianna Green and Shayla Foster, who serve as an intimidating backstop. Green leads the returners with 17 turnovers and 26 ground balls, while Foster added a caused 13 turnovers and 18 ground balls on her own. Together, the senior quartet represents the strong backbone of the Tomcats that is determined to disrupt the conference standings in the 2026 season.
