BOWLING GREEN, Ky. -- Cumberlands (Ky.) women's soccer is the preseason favorite to capture the 2026 Mid-South Conference regular-season championship, conference officials announced on Wednesday.
The Patriots garnered 36 voting points from the conference coaches, including six of the seven first-place votes. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.
Cumberlands posted a 17-5-3 record in 2025 en route to reaching the NAIA National Championship finals. The Patriots, who finished with a 4-2 conference mark, won nine of their last 11 matches last season. Cumberlands fell 3-2 in penalty kicks in the championship match after playing Keiser (Fla.) to a 1-1 tie in regulation and two overtimes.
Cumberland (Tenn.) is second in the preseason voting with 30 voting points and the final first-place vote. The Phoenix ended their season in 2025 with a 12-5-1 overall mark
Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) picked up 26 voting points from the conference coaches to finish third in the preseason poll. The Blue Raiders posted a 10-6-2 mark in 2025.
Cumberland and Lindsey Wilson were co-regular season champions in 2025 with identical 5-0-1 records.
Campbellsville (Ky.) is fourth in the preseason poll with 22 voting points. The Tigers are the defending MSC Tournament champions. Campbellsville sported a 11-9 overall record last season, including a 3-3 conference record.
Bethel (Tenn.) is fifth in the preseason standings with 16 voting points, followed by Georgetown (Ky.) with 11 voting points, and Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) with six voting points.
The 2026 MSC women's soccer season begins Thursday, August 20, with conference play beginning in early September.
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2026 Mid-South Conference Women’s Soccer Preseason Coaches’ Poll
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Pos.
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Team
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Points (First-Place Votes)
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2025 Record (MSC)
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1.
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Cumberlands (Ky.)
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36 (6)
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17-5-3 (4-2)
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2.
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Cumberland (Tenn.)
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30 (1)
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12-5-1 (5-0-1)
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3.
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Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)
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26
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10-6-2 (5-0-1)
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4.
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Campbellsville (Ky.)
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22
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11-9 (3-3)
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5.
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Bethel (Tenn.)
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16
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3-11-1 (2-4)
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6.
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Georgetown (Ky.)
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11
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6-9-1 (1-5)
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7.
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Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.)
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6
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0-15-1 (0-6)
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