The 2026 Summit League women's soccer preseason poll has been released, and the South Dakota Coyotes find themselves positioned fourth among the conference’s ten programs, accumulating 30 points.
Key Players to Watch
Senior midfielder Mali Van Meeteren returns for her final season after earning Second Team All‑Summit League honors in 2025, while redshirt sophomore forward Klarissa Vega, the 2025 Newcomer of the Year, brings a fresh burst of talent after a standout debut campaign.
Van Meeteren logged 1,444 minutes across 19 matches last year, contributing three goals and an assist, and she has been named to the Players to Watch list for 2026. Vega, who scored eight goals and added three assists while collecting Second Team All‑Summit League and United Soccer Coaches West Region Third Team accolades, is also featured on the watch list.
The Coyotes will open the season on August 12 with a preseason matchup against Northern Iowa at 4 p.m., before diving into conference play on September 24 when they host South Dakota State at 6 p.m. These fixtures mark the team’s first official games within the newly formed Summit League schedule.
Beyond the individual storylines, the program’s rise reflects a broader ambition to compete at the top tier of the league. With the coaching staff and support staff in place, the team hopes to translate preseason optimism into a strong finish when the regular season unfolds.