2026 Rankings Overview
Ohio’s girls soccer landscape for the 2026 season is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in recent memory, with the state’s Top 20 teams bringing a blend of seasoned champions and hungry newcomers.
Upper Arlington sits at the apex of the preseason poll after capturing its first Division I state championship in 2025, a milestone that has set high expectations for the new campaign.
Close behind, Cincinnati Madeira secured its eighth overall title last year, returning All‑Ohio defender Mason Mueller as a senior anchor on the back line.
Summit Country Day enters the season riding a three‑year unbeaten streak in Division IV, a program that has turned consistency into a trademark and continues to draw praise for its developmental pipeline.
Bay, ranked first overall in the poll, returns All‑Ohio midfielder Anna Weingait and a core group that helped the team to back‑to‑back championships, positioning the program as the team to beat in the statewide conversation.
Cincinnati Seton fell just one goal short of the Division I crown in 2025, and the loss has only sharpened the focus of defender Lauren Vaughn, who will once again lead a resilient defensive unit.
Walsh Jesuit will look to rebound after a narrow defeat to Perrysburg in the 2025 Division I tournament, with star attacker Abby Witkiewicz poised to once again headline the offense.
Other programs making notable impressions include Anthony Wayne, whose 2025 championship was led by Lydia Smucker’s decisive goals, and Medina, where forward Emma McTigue returns after a 15‑win season that saw the team reach the regional semifinals.
The depth of talent extends across the state, with players such as Springboro’s Keira Buckholtz, Massillon Jackson’s Reese Brickwood, and Sunbury Big Walnut’s Anna McGough expected to drive their squads forward.
Coaches and analysts alike point to the combination of returning All‑Ohio honorees, program pedigree and recent postseason success as the primary drivers behind the anticipation that 2026 will deliver another round of dramatic matches and unexpected breakthroughs.