Western Carolina University’s women’s soccer program entered the 2026 season with a notable preseason recognition, as senior defender Mary Mueth secured her second consecutive spot on the Southern Conference’s preseason All‑Conference team.
The Catamounts were slotted fourth in the league’s coaches’ poll, collecting 68 points, a placement that reflects both the program’s recent consistency and a slight dip from earlier championship expectations.
Coach’s confidence in Mueth is underscored by her back‑to‑back campaigns surpassing 1,800 minutes on the back line, during which opponents have averaged just 9.9 shots per game, a testament to her defensive impact.
Beyond her defensive duties, Mueth contributed an assist in a dominant 9‑0 victory over VMI last season and earned first‑team All‑SoCon honors in 2025, highlighting her all‑around influence.
Opening the Campaign
The Catamounts will begin their regular season on August 13 with a matchup against Winthrop, followed by contests versus UNC Wilmington and Appalachian State, setting the stage for a challenging but promising start.
The team’s recent history shows a pattern of finishing in the upper half of the Southern Conference for four straight seasons, a streak that began after a fifth‑place preseason forecast before the 2023 championship run.
With Mueth anchoring the defense and the schedule taking shape, the Catamounts aim to translate preseason optimism into on‑field success as the new campaign unfolds.