The 2026 Southland Conference preseason poll has placed Houston Christian University’s women’s soccer squad in a tie for third, a positioning that reflects both promise and pressure as the team prepares for another competitive season.
Northwestern State earned the top spot with 96 points and seven first‑place votes, while East Texas A&M followed in second with 76 points. HCU accumulated 74 points, sharing the third‑place slot with another program.
The Huskies enter the campaign with continuity intact, bringing back their top four goal‑scorers and seven of the ten starters who guided the team to a historic postseason run last year.
A championship foundation
After capturing the 2025 Southland Conference tournament championship for the third time in program history, the Huskies swept through the bracket as the fifth seed, delivering the program’s first NCAA postseason goal and setting a new single‑season win record of 12 under head coach Nick Whiting.
Looking ahead
Whiting, who has steered the program to unprecedented heights, will rely on the returning attacking core to maintain momentum. The experience gained from the 2025 run provides a solid platform for the squad to translate preseason optimism into on‑field results.
With the poll’s third‑place projection and a roster that blends proven scorers with seasoned starters, HCU aims to climb the standings and contend for its first regular‑season title since 2025. The upcoming schedule will test the team’s depth, but the coaching staff remains confident that the chemistry forged last year can propel the Huskies to new heights.