Sun Belt Announces 2026 Women's Soccer Preseason Poll
8/5/2026 1:02:00 PM | Women's Soccer
NEW ORLEANS – The Coastal Carolina women's soccer team was selected to finish 11th in the 2026 Sun Belt Conference women's soccer preseason coaches' poll, the league announced on Wednesday afternoon.
James Madison was picked as the preseason favorite, earning 182 points and six first-place votes. Old Dominion was selected second with 173 points, while South Alabama was close behind in third with 171 points and four first-place votes.
Georgia State was picked fourth with 141 points, followed by 2025 regular season champions ULM with 137 points and one first-place vote in fifth. Marshall landed sixth with 126 points and one first-place vote, just ahead of Louisiana in seventh with 125 points. App State (99 points), Georgia Southern (75 points), and Southern Miss (61 points) rounded out the top 10.
Coastal was selected 11th with 60 points, followed by Arkansas State (53 points), Louisiana Tech (39 points), and Troy (28 points).
The conference also announced its preseason individual award winners and Preseason All-Sun Belt Team.
2026 Sun Belt Conference Women's Soccer Preseason Awards
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year:
Ginny Lackey, James Madison
Preseason Midfielder of the Year:
Miku Kurihara, Louisiana
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year:
Ashlynn Kulha, Old Dominion
Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year:
Sierra Giorgio, South Alabama
Preseason All-Sun Belt Team
F – Aaliyah Faddoul, Georgia State
F – Carson Glenn, Louisiana
F – Ginny Lackey, James Madison
M – Aleigha Arndt, James Madison
M – Carys Fraser, Georgia State
M – Miku Kurihara, Louisiana
D – Amelia Campanella, South Alabama
D – Libby Holmes, Old Dominion
D – Ashlynn Kulha, Old Dominion
D – Selma Rajakangas, James Madison
GK – Sierra Giorgio, South Alabama
2026 Sun Belt Conference Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll
For complete coverage of CCU women's soccer, follow the Chants on social media @CoastalWSoccer (X), facebook.com/CCUChanticleers (Facebook), @GoCCUSports (Instagram), or visit the official home of Coastal Carolina Athletics at GoCCUsports.com.
James Madison was picked as the preseason favorite, earning 182 points and six first-place votes. Old Dominion was selected second with 173 points, while South Alabama was close behind in third with 171 points and four first-place votes.
Georgia State was picked fourth with 141 points, followed by 2025 regular season champions ULM with 137 points and one first-place vote in fifth. Marshall landed sixth with 126 points and one first-place vote, just ahead of Louisiana in seventh with 125 points. App State (99 points), Georgia Southern (75 points), and Southern Miss (61 points) rounded out the top 10.
Coastal was selected 11th with 60 points, followed by Arkansas State (53 points), Louisiana Tech (39 points), and Troy (28 points).
The conference also announced its preseason individual award winners and Preseason All-Sun Belt Team.
2026 Sun Belt Conference Women's Soccer Preseason Awards
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year:
Ginny Lackey, James Madison
Preseason Midfielder of the Year:
Miku Kurihara, Louisiana
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year:
Ashlynn Kulha, Old Dominion
Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year:
Sierra Giorgio, South Alabama
Preseason All-Sun Belt Team
F – Aaliyah Faddoul, Georgia State
F – Carson Glenn, Louisiana
F – Ginny Lackey, James Madison
M – Aleigha Arndt, James Madison
M – Carys Fraser, Georgia State
M – Miku Kurihara, Louisiana
D – Amelia Campanella, South Alabama
D – Libby Holmes, Old Dominion
D – Ashlynn Kulha, Old Dominion
D – Selma Rajakangas, James Madison
GK – Sierra Giorgio, South Alabama
2026 Sun Belt Conference Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll
- James Madison (6) – 182
- Old Dominion – 173
- South Alabama (4) – 171
- Georgia State – 141
- ULM (3) – 137
- Marshall (1) – 126
- Louisiana – 125
- App State – 99
- Georgia Southern – 75
- Southern Miss – 61
- Coastal Carolina – 60
- Arkansas State – 53
- Louisiana Tech – 39
- Troy – 28
For complete coverage of CCU women's soccer, follow the Chants on social media @CoastalWSoccer (X), facebook.com/CCUChanticleers (Facebook), @GoCCUSports (Instagram), or visit the official home of Coastal Carolina Athletics at GoCCUsports.com.
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