ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) released the 2026 Women’s Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll on Monday with UW-Superior being predicted to win the conference championship. The poll is voted on by all the head coaches in the conference. Coaches cannot vote for their own team.

Complete poll
 

Place	School	Points
1	UW-Superior (5)	34
2	Northwestern (2)	32
3	Bethany Lutheran	27
4	Minnesota Morris	18
5	Crown	16
6	Martin Luther	14
7	North Central	6

#1 UW-Superior: 34 points
The Yellowjackets received 34 points and five first-place votes from their conference peers to rank first.

UW-Superior won the UMAC Tournament Championship last season.

Head Coach: Nick Piazza | 2nd Season |
 
Top Returners

• Mercedes Domjahn, Sr., D | UMAC Academic All-Conference |17 starts, 21 games played, 1,559 minutes |
• Niamh Larson, Jr., F/M |First-team All-UMAC | 12 goals, 10 assists, 34 points |
• Emma Wright, Sr., F |Second-team All-UMAC | 6 goals, 4 assists, 16 points |

#2 Northwestern: 32 points
The Eagles earned 32 points and the final two first-place votes to rank second in this poll.

Northwestern won the UMAC Regular Season Championship last fall.

Head Coach: Danny Brandt | 2nd Season |

Top Returners:

• Naomi Meehan, Junior, Midfielder | First-team All-UMAC | CSC Academic All-District | 6 goals, 2 assists |
• Marie Kendall, Sophomore, Midfielder | UMAC Rookie of the Year, First-team All-UMAC | 14 goals, 12 assists, 190 shots |
• Britta Holter, Sophomore, Defender | UMAC Honorable Mention | 1 Assist, 2012 minutes |

#3 Bethany Lutheran: 27 points
The Vikings received 27 points for the third spot.

Head Coach: Morgan Philliber | 1st season|

Top Returners

• Reese Moorad, Sr., F| First-team All-UMAC | 7 Goals, 4 Assists, 18 Points |
• Arayah Baker, Sr., GK| First-team All-UMAC | 1305 Minutes, 104 Saves, 14 Career Shutouts |
• Riley Ping, Sr., M| Second-team All-UMAC | 6 Goals, 3 Assists, 15 Points |

#4 Minnesota Morris: 18 points
The Cougars were tabbed fourth with 18 points.

Head Coach: Colin Kaurich | 1st (interim) |

Top Returners

• Brianna Ganske, So., F | 2025 UMAC Honorable Mention| 5 Goals, 11 points, 20 starts |
• Ashlynn Pollreisz, So., M | N/A | 4 Assists, 1321 Minutes Played, 34 Shots |
• CJ Frear-Boerner, Sr., GK |2025 UMAC All-Conference Honorable Mention | 121 Saves, 4 Shutouts, 3 Games with 11 or more saves |

#5 Crown: 16 points
The Polars received 16 points to rank fifth.

Head Coach: Devin Chuba | 2nd season|

Top Returners

• Rachel Fuller, Sr., GK| 2025 Second-team All-UMAC, 2023 UMAC Rookie of the Year, 2024 First-team All-UMAC | Most Shutouts in career at Crown College | 9 Career Shutouts, 2.10 Career GAA|
• Layla Kerr, Jr., F| | 5 Goals in 2025|
• Sophia Beck, So., D |1672 Min. Played 2025 (Fr), Started in all 21 games in 2025

#6 Martin Luther: 14 points
The Knights earned 14 points to rank sixth.

Head Coach: Tyson Zarnstorff | 4th Season |

Top Returners

• Katie Schoeneck, Sr, F| 3x All-UMAC Second Team | 7 goals, 1 assist, 15 points |
• Ella Ristow, Jr, D| 1x First-team All-UMAC, 1x Second-team All-UMAC|
• Ava Walz, So, D| 1x All-UMAC Honorable Mention |

#7 North Central: 6 points
The Rams completed the poll with six points.

Head Coach: Keith Bleyer | 1st season

Top Returners 

• Ramiyah Words, Sr., D | 2 goals and 1 assist (5 points) |
• Chloe Bjorlin, Sr., D | UMAC Academic All-Conference | 13 games played in 2025 | 
• Deshawna Hodges, Sr., F | 1 goal (2 points) 
• Joyce Horton, Sr., D | 15 starts in 2025 

The 2026 women’s soccer regular season opens on Tuesday, Sept. 1. The top four teams in the standings at the close of the regular season will compete in the UMAC Tournament, with the semifinals scheduled for Wednesday, November 4 and the championship game slated for Saturday, November 7. The tournament champion will receive the UMAC’s automatic qualifying bid to the 2026 NCAA DIII Women’s Soccer Championship to compete in the national tournament.