ROME, Ga. – The Methodist University women’s soccer team looks to emerge as a contender for the USA South crown after ranking out in fourth, with 60 total points in the 2026 USA South Athletics Conference Preseason Coaches’ Poll as announced by the league offices on Wednesday afternoon.
The reigning USA South regular season and tournament champion, Brevard College, stands alone in first place, tallying 80 total points, with eight first place votes. Southern Virginia University would follow suit, gaining 73 total points with two first place votes. Greensboro College rounds out the top three, placing in third with 61 total points.
Mary Baldwin University finishes in fifth, collecting 44 total points, while North Carolina Wesleyan University tallies 40 points to rank out in sixth place. Meredith College finishes the poll in seventh, garnering 36 total points, followed by Pfeiffer University, who emerges with 26 total points for eighth place. Salem College and William Peace University finished out the preseason poll, receiving 17 and 13 total points for ninth and tenth place, respectively.
The Monarchs face a challenge to open the 2026 regular season, battling against No. 25 nationally ranked Christopher Newport University on Tuesday, September 1st, with first kick set for 5:00 PM at Captains Field. Methodist will hold their home opener against NCAA Division-II Shaw University on Sunday, September 6th at Duggins Soccer Stadium, first kick commences at 3:00 PM. League action will begin for the Monarchs on Saturday, September 19th at home against Southern Virginia University, with first kick set for 12:00 PM.
The first round of the 2026 USA South Women’s Soccer Tournament will take place on Saturday, October 31st, with the top four seeds playing host to the remaining four schools in the dance. The highest seeded schools remaining will host in semifinals on Wednesday, November 4th, with the higher seed hosting the USA South Women’s Soccer Tournament Championship on Saturday, November 7th, with all times to be determined.