Samford predicted to win 2026 women’s soccer championship

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Defending Southern Conference regular-season and tournament champion Samford is the preseason favorite to win the 2026 Southern Conference women's soccer title in voting of the league's 11 head coaches.

The coaches also selected an 11-member preseason all-conference team. Due to a tie in the voting, an extra defender was included on the squad.

ETSU and Samford tied for the league-best with three selections. Mercer placed two on the team, while Furman, UNCG, Chattanooga and Western Carolina had one apiece.

Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams or players in the balloting.

Samford, which garnered 10 first-place votes, finished with 100 points. Furman, who received the final first place vote, and ETSU tied for second with 80 points. Western Carolina was picked fourth with 68 points. Chattanooga (67) and Mercer (66) followed behind in fifth and sixth, respectively. UNCG had 43 points and Tennessee Tech finished with 40 points, placing seventh and eighth, respectively. Wofford grabbed 32 points to come in ninth place. The Citadel had 19 points to finish 10^th, and VMI rounded out the poll with 10 points.

Samford was 13-3-5 overall last season and 7-0-2 in conference play en route to regular season and tournament crowns. The Bulldogs’ three preseason all-conference selections were All-SoCon performers in 2025. Forward Sam De Luca, the 2025 SoCon Player of the Year, and defender Caroline Smith were first-team picks, while goalkeeper Peyton Hull was on the second team.

De Luca, who was also the Most Outstanding Player for the conference tournament a season ago, led the league in points (34) and goals (15) in 2025. Smith and Hull led a Bulldogs defense that recorded 12 shutouts last season, with Hull leading the league in goals against average (0.99).

Furman completed the 2025 season with a 10-4-5 overall record and a 3-2-4 mark in conference games. The Paladins placed Norah Roller on the preseason team. ETSU was 9-4-6 last season, logging a 4-1-4 record in SoCon matches. Forward Reagan Fitzgerald, midfielder Georgia Shields and defender Ella Parker were voted onto the preseason all-conference squad.

Mercer put midfielder Payton Nutzman and defender Anna Bachman on the preseason all-conference team. UNCG midfielder Rina Ogimoto, Chattanooga forward Quinn Johnson and Western Carolina defender Mary Mueth round out the preseason squad. Mueth was a first-team pick following last season. Ogimoto and Johnson, who was the 2025 SoCon Freshman of the Year, were second-team all-conference selections a season ago.

Seven squads, including the reigning champion Samford, open the 2026 regular season on Wednesday, Aug. 12. Furman, UNCG, VMI and Western Carolina open the season the next day.

The SoCon Women's Soccer Championship will feature all 11 schools. The first round will take place at the home fields of the No. 6, 7 and 8 seeds on Nov. 6. The quarterfinals will be hosted by the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds on Nov. 8. The highest remaining seed will host semifinals and championship Nov. 13 and 15.

2026 Women’s Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll

1. Samford (10)             100

2. Furman (1)                80

    ETSU                       80

4. Western Carolina       68

5. Chattanooga             67

6. Mercer                      66

7. UNCG                      43

8. Tennessee Tech       40

9. Wofford                    32

10. The Citadel             19

11. VMI                        10

() denotes first-place votes

2026 Women’s Soccer Preseason All-Conference Team

F          Reagan Fitzgerald, ETSU

F          Norah Roller, Furman

F          Sam De Luca, Samford

F          Quinn Johnson, Chattanooga

MF       Georgia Shields, ETSU

MF       Payton Nutzman, Mercer

MF       Rina Ogimoto, UNCG

D          Ella Parker, ETSU

D          Anna Bachman, Mercer

D          Caroline Smith, Samford

D          Mary Mueth, Western Carolina

GK       Peyton Hull, Samford