The University of Tennessee at Martin’s soccer program entered the 2026 campaign with a boost of optimism, as league coaches and directors placed the Skyhawks fourth in the preseason Ohio Valley Conference poll — a position that marks the highest preseason ranking for the program since 2022.
Preseason Honors
Senior forward Peyton Cook and redshirt senior goalkeeper Mac Titus head the list of recognized players, each earning Returning All‑OVC honors for performances that helped shape the team’s recent success.
Cook, who led the Skyhawks with six goals and three assists last season, posted a team‑high 62.5% shot accuracy, converting 28 of 45 attempts on target, while Titus recorded seven shutouts, a league‑leading goals‑against average of 0.71 and a save percentage of 87.9%, earning second‑team All‑Conference accolades.
Joining them among the players to watch are junior midfielder Unni Wolf and forward Millie Perry, the latter returning from injury sustained at Georgia Southern and poised for her first full season with the Skyhawks.
The team will test its readiness with two exhibition matches before the season opener on August 12, facing Arkansas State on August 5 and Northwest Mississippi on August 8, providing early chances to gel before conference play begins.
With a blend of proven veterans and promising newcomers, the Skyhawks aim to translate preseason optimism into on‑field results, hoping to climb higher than the fourth‑place projection and make a deeper impact in the OVC.