Wheeling, W. Va. - In just one week, the Wheeling University Women's Soccer team will take the field for the start of the 2026 season. On Thursday, the Mountain East Conference (MEC) released their annual Women's Soccer Preseason Poll, featuring a return to six teams each in the North and South Division. The Cardinals were voted as the #6 team in the north in a vote of the conference's head coaches, earning 18 total points in the poll. 

The 2025 season saw the Cardinals battle, led by a strong defensive effort throughout the season. The Cardinals allowed two goals or fewer in 14 of their 18 games during the season, allowing an average of 1.67 goals per game. They tied for the fifth-fewest goals allowed in the conference, while their goalkeepers finished with the third-highest save percentage in the conference at .769. The offense had a few breakout performances during the year, with their high-water mark being a 10-goal performance against Salem, but they averaged just 1.11 goals per game. However, since Jaclyn Ketter took over during the spring season, the Cardinals put a heavy focus on the offensive end, scoring more goals during their spring schedule than they did throughout the fall season. With plenty of experience returning to the field this season, the Cardinals look to build on that spring success in 2026. 

Returning to lead that offensive push is senior Gracelynn Hanna, who scored four goals and three assists to total 11 points on the season. It was a career-best effort for the senior, as she used her speed to get down the sidelines and create scoring opportunities. Finishing right behind her was her sister Lily Hanna, who finished with a team-best five assists after floating between offense and defense throughout the year. She will be pushed up the field this season to create more scoring opportunities for the Cardinals, as they look to consistently put the ball in the back of the net. On the defensive side, the Cardinals will have an all-new group in net, and look to be supported by returning center back Talia Salvador. Salvador played on the back line consistently throughout her freshman season, and looks to use that experience to step into the center back role in 2026. 

As they enter 2026, the team will begin the year with two non-conference games against Walsh and Lake Erie, before diving into their MEC schedule. They will be road warriors over the first two weeks, playing each of their first three games on the road, before opening the home schedule against Frostburg State on September 9th. It will be the first of back-to-back home games for the Cardinals, who will play just four home games throughout the month of September. They flip the script in October, playing eight games during the final month, with four of those being on their home field. Two of the three Cardinal wins came on their home field last year, and the team looks to take advantage of a late home schedule on the push for an MEC Tournament spot. 

Leading this year's MEC Women's Soccer Preseason Poll are Fairmont State in the north division and West Virginia State in the south division. The Falcons received nine first-place votes and 59 total points in the north, while the Yellow Jackets took home eight first-place votes and 58 total points in the south. There was a tie for second in the north division, with Frostburg State and West Liberty tying to finish out the top three, with Frostburg receiving three first-place votes and 51 total points, while West Liberty also received 51 total points. In the south, Charleston would take the second spot, with four first-place and 51 total points, while Concord took third with 43 total points. The rest of the preseason poll is listed below: 

MEC North

The Wheeling University Women's Soccer team kicks  off the 2026 season on Thursday, August 27, when they travel to Walsh at 6 PM.