NMU is fifth in the poll. MTU tenth
The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) announced the results of the 2026 women’s soccer preseason poll on Tuesday.
The poll was determined by a vote of the league coaches.
Grand Valley State was selected No. 1, receiving nine first-place votes and totaling 81 points. The Lakers, who enter the 2026 season as the reigning GLIAC regular season and tournament champions, posted a 19-2-1 record a year ago, including 13 conference wins.
GVSU will be led by returning First Team All-GLIAC performers forward Sarah Fromm, midfielder Sonya Mehta and defender Acadia Murphy.
Saginaw Valley State polled in second place, earning 71 points and one first-place vote. The Cardinals tallied its highest win total since 2021 last season, 15, and advanced to the GLIAC Tournament title game for the second consecutive year.
Just three points separated the third and fourth place teams, Ferris State (60) and Parkside (57). The Bulldogs return their top three scorers and four of the top six overall for the 2026 campaign, led by senior forward Katherine Welch.
Parkside enters the 2026 campaign following one of its best seasons in nearly a decade, as the Rangers won 10 or more matches for the first time since 2016 and advanced to the GLIAC semifinals for the second time in three seasons.
Northern Michigan placed fifth in the preseason poll totaling 48 points. The returning group of Madison Bilbia, Gretchen Ellis and Irene Kiilunen accounted for seven goals and seven assists in 2025.
Davenport finished sixth with 39 points, followed closely by first-year program Wayne State (7th, 37 points). The Warriors, who are led by head coach Doug Steinard, feature a roster that is composed of 17 freshman and 16 transfers.
Purdue Northwest (27 points), Roosevelt (17) and Michigan Tech (13) rounded out the poll.
