Ashland University's women's soccer team will begin the 2026 season close to where it ended 2025 – in the United Soccer Coaches (USC) Top 25 NCAA Division II women's poll, at least.
The USC revealed its national preseason poll on Tuesday (Aug. 4) afternoon, and the Eagles are slotted at No. 22. AU ended the 2025 campaign at No. 24 in the USC poll.
"The standard and expectation doesn't change here," said Ashland head coach
Cayleb Paulino. "At the end of the day, what you did in 2025 doesn't affect what you do in 2026. We're excited to get the kids here on campus and start working."
Eagle women's soccer was 14-3-5 overall and 10-0-4 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference in 2025, winning both the conference's regular-season and tournament titles, and was victorious in the first round of the NCAA postseason. Ashland has reached the NCAA Division II postseason for seven straight seasons it has been contested (2018-19, 2021-25).
Ashland was ranked as high as No. 12 during last season.
The Eagles' 2026 season will begin with a Top 25 match-up at Ferguson Field on Aug. 27 at 6 p.m. vs. No. 19 Grand Valley State. In their third game of the season, the Eagles will play at No. 1-ranked and defending D-II national champion Florida Tech at 7 p.m. on Sept. 3.
AU returns five players who started more than half of the games in 2025 – sophomore forwards
Tessa Blain (first-team All-Great Midwest in 2025) and
Cece Craig, sophomore midfielder
Karleigh Cress, and senior defenders
Kellyn Fausel and
Clara Richardson (second-team all-conference). Two more first-team all-league selections return in senior defender
Adi Turnbaugh and junior forward
Sofia Divine.
2026 ASHLAND UNIVERSITY WOMEN'S SOCCER USC RANKINGS: No. 22 (preseason).
