The 2026 Under Armour Horizon League women's soccer preseason poll has placed the Youngstown State Penguins at third overall, collecting 103 points from league coaches. Milwaukee sits atop with 142 points, while Northern Kentucky follows in second with 119.
Returning Stars
A large portion of last season's production returns to the lineup. The squad retains 78% of the points generated by its top four scorers, underscoring continuity and experience.
Senior forward Sara Felder, senior midfielder Camille Bultel, and sophomore forward Kamryn Rosa are among the key returners. Together they accounted for 19 of the team's 29 goals and contributed nine of the 24 assists recorded in the previous campaign.
Conference Outlook
Behind the Penguins, Green Bay is projected to finish fourth with 102 points and Oakland fifth with 93. Northern Illinois rounds out the top seven with 72 points, while the remainder of the poll includes IU Indianapolis, Cleveland State, Robert Morris, Detroit Mercy, and Purdue Fort Wayne.
The Penguins will begin the season on August 12, hosting Pittsburgh at Ambrose Urbanic Field at 7 p.m. The match offers an early test of the chemistry among the returning core and sets the tone for a campaign that many expect to be competitive within the league.