BOSTON, Mass. -- The 2026 Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches Poll for women's soccer was released on Monday with the nationally-ranked Christopher Newport squad checking in at No. 2 in the rankings. The Captains are set to return to the pitch in 2026 after winning the 2025 conference crown and advancing to the NCAA Tournament for a program-record ninth consecutive season. 

The league's head coaches, who can not vote for themselves, were split between the Captains and pre-season favorites Mary Washington with five first place votes going to the latter and three to Christopher Newport. The final point difference was just two points as the Eagles edged CNU for the top of the preseason poll by a margin of 47 to 45. Behind CNU, there was a tie for third between UC Santa Cruz and Salisbury with 32 points apiece while Johnson and Wales rounded out the top five with 29 points. In order, the rest of the poll featured Regent (17 pts), Warren Wilson (15 pts), and league newcomer Alverno (7 pts). 

Since joining the conference in 2013, the CNU women's soccer team was picked as preseason favorite in all 11 previous polls. The 2026 version of the rankings mark the first time the Captains have been unseated as the top team in the coaches poll after the Eagles advanced all the way to the NCAA National Quarterfinals a year ago. Christopher Newport won the regular season and conference title in the C2C before falling in the opening round of last year's postseason event. 

Christopher Newport is in the midst of one of the most winningest stretches of NCAA soccer, men or women, since the sports inception at any level. The Captains have logged an overall record of 93-4-12 (.908) over the last five seasons including the 2021 NCAA Division III national championship and another NCAA national semifinals appearance in 2024. 

Heading into the season, the Captains will be looking to replace four honored seniors including All-American midfielder Hanna Heaton, All-Region midfielder Kyleigh Gough and a pair of All-Conference selections in Alex Devers and Molly Seventko. Despite the significant losses, the Captains will still boast a veteran team with 14 upperclassmen including senior All-Region stars in Bella DiTommaso, Lexi Hazelgrove, and Amy Sidaway. The bulk of the back line is expected to return with DiTommaso anchoring the unit beside rising sophomores Malayah Warner and Addy Hennessy. Playing in front of record-breaking goalkeeper, Sidaway, the Captains registered one of the top defensive performances in the nation a year ago with 13 shutouts and a 0.37 goals-against average, ranking in the top-ten nationally. 

The Captains will open the season on Tuesday, September 1 at home against Methodist University. 
 

2026 C2C Women's Soccer Preseason Poll
Rank	Institution	Points (1st)
1.	Mary Washington	47 (5)
2.	Christopher Newport	45 (3)
T3.	UC Santa Cruz	32
T3.	Salisbury	32
5.	JWU Charlotte	29
6.	Regent	17
7.	Warren Wilson	15
8.	Alverno	7