Women's Soccer Begins 2026 Campaign Ranked at No. 19 in NAIA Preseason Coaches' Poll

LEBANON, Tenn. - - The Cumberland women's soccer team were voted No. 19 in the NAIA Preseason Top 25 Coaches' Poll, as was announced by the league office this morning.

The Phoenix have been ranked in every Preseason since 2013, minus the Covid-shortened 2020 season, and have been sat inside of the top twenty on a dozen occasions. Cumberland comes into this season just the same with a No. 19 ranking that is unmoved from the Postseason Poll from 2025.

CU finished last season as Regular Season Co-Champions with Lindsey Wilson and finished their season in the Second Round of the NAIA National Tournament where they fell to Truett McConnell who is now ranked No. 8 after they made a run to the quarters.

The Phoenix open their season at home this Saturday, taking on semifinalists and current No. 3-ranked Embry-Riddle of Arizona at 1 PM.

The 2026 NAIA Women's Soccer season officially begins tomorrow, August 20, when countable games get underway. 197 teams across 19 conferences all begin with one goal in mind. That goal is to be playing soccer come December in Decatur, Alabama, at Jack Allen Sports Complex, battling it out for the coveted Red Banner.

Keiser (Fla.), the defending national champions from the 2025 season, begin their journey where they left off, at the top with 19 first-place votes. This marks just the second time since 1999 that the Seahawks have opened a season at No. 1, the last in 2021. Cumberlands (Ky.), last year's runner-up, will open the 2026 season at No. 2, while Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) and Oklahoma Wesleyan begin at No. 3 and No. 4, respectively, after both squads made deep postseason runs last year.

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