Preseason Preview
Gannon University's women's soccer program enters the 2026 season with a United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division II preseason ranking of No. 23, marking the fifth consecutive year the Golden Knights have earned a national poll position and building on a streak of back‑to‑back 16‑win campaigns.
Head coach Colin Petersen, now in his 25th year at the helm, brings a career record of 237‑167‑45 and a winning stretch that includes 17 of the last 18 seasons, providing the stability and experience that have defined the program's recent success.
The returning roster features Team MVP Ella Fadale, who led the Golden Knights with 16 goals and 33 points in 2025, alongside All‑PSAC West First Team selections Destinee Robertson and Morgan Sinan, the latter concluding her career with a 50‑7‑9 record and 20 shutouts in 74 appearances.
Fresh talent such as Joclyn Nelson and Allie Besancon joins the squad, while veterans Brooklyn Respecki, Grace Emanuel and Hannah Shepard, all recognized on the 2025 All‑PSAC West First Team, return to anchor the attack and back line.
The season opener is scheduled for August 30 at McConnell Family Stadium, where the Golden Knights will host Seton Hill at 3 p.m., serving as the first test of a schedule designed to sustain the program’s upward trajectory.
Despite the graduation of several key contributors, the depth of experience and the continuity of coaching staff position Gannon to maintain its consistent success and contend strongly throughout the upcoming campaign.