Preseason Landscape
Marquette forward Jocelyn Leigh earned a spot on the 2026 Big East Women’s Soccer Preseason All-Conference Team, the lone representative from the Golden Eagles.
During the 2025 campaign she led the team with seven goals and 15 points, establishing herself as the squad’s top scorer.
The Golden Eagles entered the preseason poll at seventh place, accumulating 40 points, positioned between Providence’s 60 and Butler’s 39.
Georgetown, meanwhile, topped the poll with 98 points and secured eight first‑place votes from league coaches, making them the preseason favorite.
Individual accolades followed, with Xavier’s Peyton Kohls named Offensive Player of the Year, Georgetown’s Kaya Hanson honored as Defensive Player of the Year, and Villanova’s Hanna Dickinson recognized as Goalkeeper of the Year.
Lizzie Heller of Georgetown received the Preseason Midfielder of the Year award, while Anaya Johnson of UConn was the sole returning First‑Team honoree from 2025, earning a unanimous selection alongside Kohls.
Coaches named 13 players to the preseason all‑conference squad amid a voting tie, and the author noted that ten of eleven predicted selections made the list, while only two defenders were chosen, a balance the author deemed uneven.
The season will open with an exhibition match on August 8 against Illinois at Valley Fields, kicking off at 5 p.m. Central, before the regular slate begins on August 12 with an away game at St. Thomas in Minnesota.