HICKORY, N.C. - The Lenoir-Rhyne women's soccer team have been picked to finish second in the South Atlantic Conference this year, as voted on by the conference coaches. Head coach Justin Maullin and the Bears are ranked No. 8 in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll.

Katie Durham and Ava Hartman were named to the Preseason All-Conference Team while Mya Rivera, Ingrid Krakhellen, and Rosa Gonzalez were named Players to Watch. This year's team will have plenty of veteran leadership as they return over 91% of their point production from last season. Key losses were 4x All-Conference honoree Carola Busquets and 2025 All-SAC Third Team honoree Nicole Auger. Transfers Julie Galie (Furman), Lily Stegall (Gardner Webb), and Krista Nielsen (Carson-Newman) will look to take over Busquets' control of the midfield while returner Lucia Hidalgo brings back her dangerous scoring punch that included two game winners in the NCAA Tournament. 

Last season the Bears went 13-5-3 and won their fourth Southeast Region Championship. This also included a runner-up finish in the SAC regular season standings. Durham and Hartman were both named to the USC All-Region Second Team while Rivera, Krakhellen, and Gonzalez were All-SAC Third Team honorees. The Bears were a stout defensive team, especially in the NCAA Tournament, posting three consecutive shutouts before allowing two goals in a loss to Florida Tech in the national quarterfinals. 

The Bears, historically one of the strongest teams in both the region and the country, have won 14 SAC Championships and advanced to 12 NCAA Tournaments. They are one of just three teams in Division II in the past five years to win three regional titles. In 2021 LR advanced to the national semi-finals, the deepest run in program history. 

The Bears will open their season at home on Thursday when they host the University of Tampa at 6:00 p.m. This is followed by another home game on Sunday vs. Concord at 1:00 p.m.

2026 SOUTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE WOMEN'S SOCCER PRESEASON COACHES' POLL
1. Catawba - 96 points (6 first-place votes)
2. Lenoir-Rhyne - 92 points (4 first-place votes)
3. Anderson - 76 points
4. Wingate - 72 points (1 first-place vote)
5. Coker - 66 points
6. Carson-Newman - 58 points
T7. Lincoln Memorial - 42 points
T7. Tusculum - 42 points
9. Newberry - 26 points
10. Emory & Henry - 23 points
11. Mars Hill - 12 points