The 2026 Mountain East Conference women's soccer preseason poll has positioned Fairmont State University as the North Division favorite, earning nine first‑place votes, while West Virginia State University tops the South Division with eight first‑place votes.
Fairmont State arrives as the recent MEC champion, having reached the second round of the 2025 NCAA Division II tournament, and it does so under a new head coach while bringing back a core group of players.
West Virginia State, the 2025 South Division champions, posted a 15‑5‑1 overall record and a 14‑1‑1 conference slate, and it will field several All‑MEC honorees who are set to return.
The poll also reflects a tight race behind the leaders, with Frostburg State and West Liberty sharing second place in the North Division at 51 points each and each receiving three first‑place votes, while Charleston secured second in the South with 51 points and four first‑place votes.
The season is slated to open on August 20, kicking off with a nonconference matchup between Davis & Elkins and West Virginia Tech.
Returning Talent
Among the returning standouts for Fairmont State are midfielders Valentina Gianinetto, defender Agnes Bjork, forward Olivia Johnson, midfielder Serenity Thomas and forward Ava Yannucci, who together helped the team to a 17‑2‑3 record last year.
West Virginia State will count on All‑MEC selections Leila Karam, Sara París Fílter and Hannah Aneley Nuñez Perreira, who contributed to the team's strong defensive and midfield presence.
Coaches and analysts say the early rankings set the stage for a competitive schedule, with the new coaching staff at Fairmont State aiming to build on last season’s momentum while West Virginia State looks to defend its division crown.