GREENVILLE, S.C. – In the 2026 Conference Carolinas Women's Soccer Preseason Poll, defending tournament runner-up, Francis Marion University was picked atop the poll with 2025 champion Belmont Abbey College in second place.
The Patriots won the Conference Carolinas East Division each of the last two years while taking the tournament title in 2024 before finishing runner-up in 2025. Francis Marion earned 220 points and 10 first place votes in the poll. 2025 Northwest Division champion, Belmont Abbey, earned five first place votes and 204 points to land in the second spot.
UNC Pembroke comes in third with 192 points while 2025 Southwest Division champion, Young Harris College, is fourth with 166 points. Chowan University rounds out the top five with 145 points.
Converse University is sixth with 142 points, Lees-McRae College is seventh with 141 points, and they are followed by North Greenville University at eighth with 118 points. Emmanuel University comes in ninth with 115 points and the final first place vote while Ferrum College rounds out the top 10 with 99 points.
The University of Mount Olive (88), Southern Wesleyan University (86), Barton College (82), King University (58), Erskine College (40) and Shorter University (24) round out the poll.
The 2026 Conference Carolinas Women's Soccer Championship is scheduled to start with preliminary rounds on October 28 and 31 before the semifinals and final will be competed at Truist Soccer Complex at Bryan Park in Browns Summit, North Carolina on November 5 and 7.
The preseason poll was voted on by the league's head coaches and they can't vote for their own school.
2026 Conference Carolinas
Women's Soccer Preseason Poll
|
School |
Points (1st Place) |
| 1 |
Francis Marion |
220 (10) |
| 2 |
Belmont Abbey |
204 (5) |
| 3 |
UNC Pembroke |
192 |
| 4 |
Young Harris |
166 |
| 5 |
Chowan |
145 |
| 6 |
Converse |
142 |
| 7 |
Lees-McRae |
141 |
| 8 |
North Greenville |
118 |
| 9 |
Emmanuel |
115 (1) |
| 10 |
Ferrum |
99 |
| 11 |
Mount Olive |
88 |
| 12 |
Southern Wesleyan |
86 |
| 13 |
Barton |
82 |
| 14 |
King |
58 |
| 15 |
Erskine |
40 |
| 16 |
Shorter |
24 |
2026 Conference Carolinas Women's Soccer
Players to Watch
Barton
- Dot Tieszen, Sr., F, Anchorage, Alaska
- Lilly Moss, Sr., D/M, Prairieville, Louisiana
- Olivia Terranova, Fr., GK, Fayetteville, North Carolina
Belmont Abbey
- Jadyn Radestock, Sr., D, San Diego, California (2025 All-Conference Carolinas first team, United Soccer Coaches All-Southeast Region third team)
- Haley Long, Sr., F, Winston-Salem, North Carolina (Three-time All-Conference Carolinas selection)
- Maris Toppin, Jr., D, Carolina Beach, North Carolina (2025 All-Conference Carolinas second team)
Chowan
- Laura Hulme, Jr., M, Huddersfield, England (2025 All-Conference Carolinas third team)
- Kylee Smith, So., GK, Virginia Beach, Virginia (2025 All-Conference Carolinas second team)
- Riley Donnelly, So., F, Jacksonville, North Carolina
Converse
- McKenzie Bundy, Sr., M, Lancaster, South Carolina
- Kathryn Hoffman, So., F, Punta Gorda, Florida
- Sam Quillen, Jr., M, Fountain Inn, South Carolina
Emmanuel
- Jimena Rivera, Sr., M, Visalia, California
- Emily Chavez, Jr., M, Houston, Texas
- Emma Hanley, Jr., M, Carnesville, Georgia
Erskine
- Valentina Santana, Jr., GK, Miami, Florida
- Hannah DeVincent, So., F, Eldersburg, Maryland
- Soleil St. Hill, Fr., F, Miramar, Florida
Ferrum
- Bre Herlihy, Jr., M, Frankfort, Illinois
- Summer Stevens, So., M, Kitty Hawk, North Carolina
- Jessie Howison, Sr., M, Indian Land, South Carolina
Francis Marion
- Tehya Dave', Gr., F, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (2025 United Soccer Coaches All-America first team, 2025 United Soccer Coaches and D2 CCA All-Southeast Region first team, 2025 Conference Carolinas Offensive Player of the Year, all-conference first team and Conference Carolinas All-Tournament, 2024 D2 CCA All-Southeast Region second team, 2024 All-Conference Carolinas first team)
- Alana Hunt, Jr., D, Swindon, England (2025 United Soccer Coaches and D2 CCA All-America second team, 2025 United Soccer Coaches and D2 CCA All-Southeast Region first team, 2025 Conference Carolinas Defensive Player of the Year and all-conference first team, 2024 All-Conference Carolinas third team)
- Erin Grabeel, Sr., GK, Gordonsville, Virginia (2025 United Soccer Coaches All-America first team, 2025 United Soccer Coaches All-Southeast Region first team, 2025 D2 CCA All-Southeast Region second team, 2025 All-Conference Carolinas first team, 2024 All-Conference Carolinas third team, 2024 Conference Carolinas All-Tournament)
King
- Ella Froehlich, Sr., F, Sunbury, Ohio
- Tori Thauer, Grad., D, Grand Island, New York
- Mackenzie Simmons, So., D, Moorpark, California
Lees-McRae
- Brooke Allen, Gr., M, Wilmington, North Carolina
- Addy Geiss, Jr., M, Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina
- Aubrey Tansey, So., F, Cape Coral, Florida
Mount Olive
- Charlotte Benson, Jr., M, Spring Hope, North Carolina
- Yanelli Sanchez, Sr., F, Garner, North Carolina
- Anais Coyne, Sr., GK, Mansfield, Texas
UNC Pembroke
- Addison Ellsworth, So., GK, Greensboro, North Carolina
- Aubrianna Martin, So., D, Jacksonville, North Carolina
- Key'Patra Morgan, Jr., D, Garner, North Carolina
North Greenville
- Jaycee Watkins, Sr., D, Bakersfield, California
- Finley Lloyd, Sr., M, Monument, Colorado
- Ana Maria Pinzon, Jr., F, Medellín, Colombia (All-CAAC second team)
Shorter
- Evann Yake, Sr., M, Indian Head, Maryland
- Gianna Estavillo, So., F, Tucson, Arizona
- Karis Eccleston, Sr., GK, Roswell, Georgia
Southern Wesleyan
- Ester Carabano, Fr., GK, Valencia, Spain
- Lucia Fernandez, Fr., M, Valladolid, Spain
- Karina Pashkovets, Sr., D, Dacula, Georgia (2025 All-Conference Carolinas second team, 2024 All-Conference Carolinas second team, 2023 All-Conference Carolinas third team)
Young Harris
- Charlotte Brown, Sr., M, Beaverton, Oregon
- Kennedy Blake, So., M, Johns Creek, Georgia
- Faith Niebrugge, Sr., F, Mattoon, Illinois