PITMAN, NJ – Rowan has been picked as the 2026 preseason favorite in the New Jersey Athletic Conference Women's Soccer Poll. The race is expected to be a tight one, however, as Montclair State also picked up five first-place votes and was tabbed second overall.
TCNJ was picked third, while Stockton was tagged this year's dark horse in fourth. Kean, Rutgers-Camden, New Paltz — playing its first season as an NJAC member — Rutgers-Newark, Ramapo, and William Paterson rounded out the poll.
2026 NJAC WOMEN'S SOCCER PRESEASON POLL
(first place votes in parentheses)
1. Rowan (5)
2. Montclair State (5)
3. TCNJ
4. Stockton (dark horse)
5. Kean
6. Rutgers-Camden
7. New Paltz
8. Rutgers-Newark
9. Ramapo
10. William Paterson
KEAN
Kean returns a pair of Honorable Mention All-NJAC forwards to lead the way in 2026. Carly Gleason led the team in scoring last season with 19 points on seven goals and five assists, while Ella Petrosh ranked second on the team with 12 points. Defenders Sierra Fisbeck and Kaydence Oakley return to anchor a steady back line. The Cougars bring in a promising trio of newcomers in Danielle Maher, Natalia Soler, and Carleigh Feeney to add depth up front.
Newcomers to Watch: Danielle Maher (Rahway HS), Natalia Soler (Miller Place HS, NY), Carleigh Feeney (Manasquan HS)
Head Coach Brian Doherty: "We have a good group of returners with great leadership in 2026. We are expecting to improve on last season."
MONTCLAIR STATE
Montclair State returns reigning NJAC Midfielder of the Year Shannon Mullins, who ranked third on the team in scoring with 20 points, and First Team All-NJAC forward Isabell Kronow, who ranked fourth with 19 points, both key pieces of an attack that tied for the most goals scored in the NJAC (52) last season. First Team All-NJAC defender Aria Hicks anchors a defense that allowed the league's second-fewest goals (14), and NJAC Rookie of the Year Carly Guzzardo returns after chipping in eight assists from the back as a freshman. The Red Hawks add a pair of Division I transfers in goalkeeper Mackenzie Sibello from LIU and forward Lia Manuel from Murray State to a squad looking to build on last year's conference title. Also joining the Red Hawks is defender Kyanah-Belle Jean-Louis, who earned First Team All-NJAC honors at NJCU last season.
Newcomers to Watch: Kyanah-Belle Jean-Louis (D; NJCU), Mackenzie Sibello (GK; LIU), Lia Manuel (F; Murray State)
Head Coach Patrick Naughter: "Half of the roster is new this year, and while we return a great group of experienced players it is always hard to tell how a group will come together. We are excited about our chances to compete in the postseason."
SUNY NEW PALTZ
SUNY New Paltz enters its first season as an NJAC member with a compact roster of eight returners and 12 newcomers ready to make an immediate impression. Forward Abby Macleod and midfielder Alyssa Deutsch, who tied for fourth on the team in scoring with eight points, lead the attack, while defenders Kara Jahrsdoerfer and Erin Savarese anchor the back line. The Hawks bring in centerback Zoey Manzo and midfielders Mia Dahlhaus and Sole O'Hara to round out an energized group entering conference play for the first time.
Newcomers to Watch: Zoey Manzo (D; Niskayuna HS), Mia Dahlhaus (M; Academy of American Studies), Sole O'Hara (M; Vestal Senior HS)
Head Coach Brad Bolton: "With only eight returners and 12 new players it will be interesting to see how it comes together through non-conference play. We have talent, but a smaller roster so depth could be an issue, but we are very excited for the upcoming season."
RAMAPO
Ramapo returns forward Morgan Korinchak and defender Gigi Santana, who tied for third on the team in scoring with five points, to anchor the Roadrunners' attack and back line. Korinchak, who played in the back last season, moves up to shore up the Roadrunner offense. The team adds a talented trio of newcomers up top, including forwards Victoria Gil and Fiona Helly, and midfielder Sofia Cascio, giving Ramapo fresh scoring options to pair with its returning core as it looks to build on last season.
Newcomers to Watch: Victoria Gil (F; Paramus HS), Fiona Helly (F; Woodridge HS), Sofia Cascio (M; Parsippany HS)
ROWAN
Rowan enters 2026 having graduated a pair of All-Americans in forward Olivia Giordano and defender Julianna Giordano, but the Profs' cupboard is far from bare. First Team All-NJAC midfielder Sara Wiedeman, who ranked second on the team in scoring with 19 points, and Second Team All-NJAC forward Angela Oliveto, who ranked fourth with 15 points, both return from an attack that tied for the most goals scored in the NJAC (52) a year ago. First Team All-NJAC defender MaKala Baker anchors a defense that allowed a league-low 10 goals all season. The Profs add midfielder Kylee Ferranto and goalkeeper Enya Carthy, both transfers from NJIT, along with freshman defender Mckenna Eaton.
Newcomers to Watch: Kylee Ferranto (M; NJIT), Enya Carthy (GK; NJIT), Mckenna Eaton (D; Williamstown HS)
Head Coach Scott Leacott: "We lost a lot to graduation, including two All-Americans, but we have quality in our first year class and transfers and should be very good."
RUTGERS-CAMDEN
Rutgers-Camden returns forward Brianne Reeves, who led the team in scoring last season, and midfielder Ava Stowell to spearhead the attack, while Second Team All-NJAC goalkeeper Giselle Lizardi, who led the entire NJAC in save percentage at .882, anchors a defense that also returns Ashlee Schlagenhaft. The Scarlet Raptors bring in forward Gianna Simon and Sam Scutt, a transfer from Shenandoah, to add fresh energy to a team excited for the season ahead.
Newcomers to Watch: Gianna Simon (Overbrook HS), Sam Scutt (Shenandoah University)
Head Coach Kevin Luber: "We are a young team with a lot of new faces. However, there is a new exciting energy within our team."
RUTGERS-NEWARK
Rutgers-Newark returns a pair of all-conference forwards in Eliza Haghighi, who tied for seventh in the conference in game-winning goals a year ago, and Vielka Fernandez, who tied for second on the team in scoring with 15 points. On defense, all-conference selection J'nyyah Young returns alongside Bella Velaj to anchor a hungry, hardworking back line. The Scarlet Raiders add three newcomers, including goalkeeper Maura Chawner, as they look to take a step forward in 2026.
Newcomers to Watch: Bella Togias (D; West Genesee HS, NY), Sheila O'Neill (D; Bayonne HS), Maura Chawner (GK; Middletown North HS)
Head Coach Nate Guagliardi: "This year's team is hungry. They're tough, driven, and willing to put in the work every day to get better. We're not looking for shortcuts, we're looking for players who are going to compete, hold each other accountable, and embrace the challenge. This group has something to prove, and we're excited to see what they can accomplish together."
STOCKTON
Stockton was tabbed this year's dark horse behind a talented pair of returning midfielders in Makayla Jaffe, a Second Team All-NJAC selection who ranked second on the team in scoring with 14 points, and Kylee Reissek, an Honorable Mention honoree. Defender Erin Lally and goalkeeper Tori Vliet anchor a steady back line. The Ospreys add newcomers at every level, including goalkeeper Lucy Grazecki, midfielder Ava Pino, and forward Lily Burt, a transfer from Morehead State, as they look to build on last year's foundation.
Newcomers to Watch: Lucy Grazecki (GK; Round Rock HS, TX), Ava Pino (M; RCSJ-Gloucester/Delsea HS), Lily Burt (F; Morehead State/Eastern HS)
Head Coach Courtney Dougherty: "Our team is looking forward to improving upon the foundation built last year and competing against strong NJAC and non-conference opponents this season. With a handful of veterans graduated from last season, we will be relying on exciting first-years and transfers, combined with a few key returners, to help us reach our postseason goals."
TCNJ
TCNJ returns one of the NJAC's most productive attackers in First Team All-NJAC forward Alyssa Alfano, who led the team in scoring a year ago with 27 points while ranking third in the conference in both goals and points. Forward Emily Weidner ranked third on the team in scoring, and goalkeeper Ellen Williams returns after tying for third in the league in shutouts (8). Second Team All-NJAC defender Isa Charles rounds out a solid back line. The Lions add attacking midfielders Olivia Hnat and Corinne Russo, along with forward Anna Guido, as they look to build momentum heading into conference play.
Newcomers to Watch: Olivia Hnat (ACM; Henderson HS, West Chester, PA), Corinne Russo (ACM; Pennsbury HS), Anna Guido (LW; Notre Dame HS, Lawrence, NJ)
Head Coach Danny Blank: "We had a very productive spring, so hopefully some of that carries over. We have a lot of new faces so it's going to take some time for us to hit our stride. Hopefully we can make a competitive run in the NJAC."
WILLIAM PATERSON
William Paterson will look to replace graduated all-conference defender Erin Clark with a young, determined back line, but returns a strong attacking core in all-conference forward Christina Jimenez, who tied for second on the team in scoring, and midfielder Janie Henderson, who led the team in scoring with 10 points. Defenders Kiley Hines and Kira Collum also return to add experience. The Pioneers bring in goalkeeper Alessandra Socio, a transfer from Lynchburg, and defender Sophia Veloso, a transfer from NJCU, to bolster the roster.
Newcomers to Watch: Alessandra Socio (GK; Lynchburg College), Sophia Veloso (D; NJCU)
Head Coach Keith Woods: "The loss of all-conference selection Erin Clark will leave a lot of questions to be answered for a young defensive unit. A solid midfield core led by Janie Henderson and the return of all-conference selection Christina Jimenez up front bodes well for the Pioneers."