Preseason Favorites and Key Storylines
Samford University’s women’s soccer program has been selected as the preseason favorite for the Southern Conference, earning 100 points and ten of the eleven first‑place votes in the league’s annual poll.
The Bulldogs’ optimism is anchored by forward Sam De Luca, who was named the SoCon Player of the Year in 2025 after leading the conference with fifteen goals and thirty‑four points, while defender Caroline Smith earned first‑team All‑SoCon honors with two goals and six assists.
Goalkeeper Peyton Hull also received recognition, landing on the second‑team All‑SoCon list after posting thirteen wins and eleven shutouts last season.
Samford capped a remarkable 2025 campaign by capturing both the regular‑season and tournament titles, a performance that secured an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament and set the stage for a high‑profile 2026 schedule.
The Bulldogs will open the new season with a marquee matchup against second‑ranked Notre Dame on August 12, followed by their home opener against Belmont at Shauna Yelton Field on August 16, while rivals Furman and ETSU sit tied for second in the preseason poll with eighty points each.