MAC Releases 2026 Soccer Preseason Poll
8/11/2026 3:00:00 PM | Women's Soccer
CLEVELAND, Ohio – In a vote of the league's 12 head coaches, the Ohio soccer team was selected to finish eighth in the regular season in the 2026 Mid-American Conference Preseason Poll, the conference announced today (Aug. 11). The Bobcats earned 56 overall points.
Western Michigan was picked to win both the MAC regular season title and the MAC Tournament. The Broncos compiled 119 points and nine first-place votes for the regular season and four votes to win the conference tournament.
Following Western Michigan is Miami (102 -2), Bowling Green (101), Buffalo (97 -1), Kent State (82), Ball State (60), Eastern Michigan (58), UMass (49), Toledo (27), Central Michigan (23), and Akron (18).
Western Michigan received four votes to win the MAC Championship, while Bowling Green received three, Buffalo and Miami received two and Kent State one. This year's MAC Tournament will take place at a neutral site, returning to Columbus, Ohio Nov. 7-13 at Historic Crew Stadium.
The 2026 Bobcats are led by 14th-year head coach Aaron Rodgers. Ohio returns juniors Iro Fakinou (Athens, Greece) and Sania Dearing (Pickerington, Ohio) and seniors Jaimason Brooker (Powell, Ohio) and Kate Robinson (Madison Heights, Mich.) who were four of the top five point scorers for the Bobcats in 2025, with Fakinou leading the way with four goals and nine points. Ohio also returns senior Anna Burchette (Prestonburg, Ky.) and redshirt senior Ella Deevers (Streetsboro, Ohio), as well as graduate student Eve Berish (Hudson, Ohio) who missed last season due to injury.Â
Ohio gets the regular season started at home on Wednesday, Aug. 12 when the Bobcats host UIC. First touch is set for 4 p.m. ET at Chessa Field.
2026 MAC Women's Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll
First Place votes in ( ) | *Coaches were not able to vote for themselves
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1. Western Michigan (9) – 119 points
2. Miami (2) – 102 points
3. Bowling Green – 101 points
4. Buffalo (1) – 97 points
5. Kent State – 82 points
6. Ball State – 60 points
7. Eastern Michigan – 58 points
8. Ohio – 56 points
9. UMass – 49 points
10. Toledo – 27 points
11. Central Michigan – 23 points
12. Akron – 18 points
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Tournament Champion: Western Michigan – 4; Bowling Green – 3; Buffalo – 2; Miami – 2; Kent State – 1      Â
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Western Michigan was picked to win both the MAC regular season title and the MAC Tournament. The Broncos compiled 119 points and nine first-place votes for the regular season and four votes to win the conference tournament.
Following Western Michigan is Miami (102 -2), Bowling Green (101), Buffalo (97 -1), Kent State (82), Ball State (60), Eastern Michigan (58), UMass (49), Toledo (27), Central Michigan (23), and Akron (18).
Western Michigan received four votes to win the MAC Championship, while Bowling Green received three, Buffalo and Miami received two and Kent State one. This year's MAC Tournament will take place at a neutral site, returning to Columbus, Ohio Nov. 7-13 at Historic Crew Stadium.
The 2026 Bobcats are led by 14th-year head coach Aaron Rodgers. Ohio returns juniors Iro Fakinou (Athens, Greece) and Sania Dearing (Pickerington, Ohio) and seniors Jaimason Brooker (Powell, Ohio) and Kate Robinson (Madison Heights, Mich.) who were four of the top five point scorers for the Bobcats in 2025, with Fakinou leading the way with four goals and nine points. Ohio also returns senior Anna Burchette (Prestonburg, Ky.) and redshirt senior Ella Deevers (Streetsboro, Ohio), as well as graduate student Eve Berish (Hudson, Ohio) who missed last season due to injury.Â
Ohio gets the regular season started at home on Wednesday, Aug. 12 when the Bobcats host UIC. First touch is set for 4 p.m. ET at Chessa Field.
2026 MAC Women's Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll
First Place votes in ( ) | *Coaches were not able to vote for themselves
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1. Western Michigan (9) – 119 points
2. Miami (2) – 102 points
3. Bowling Green – 101 points
4. Buffalo (1) – 97 points
5. Kent State – 82 points
6. Ball State – 60 points
7. Eastern Michigan – 58 points
8. Ohio – 56 points
9. UMass – 49 points
10. Toledo – 27 points
11. Central Michigan – 23 points
12. Akron – 18 points
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Tournament Champion: Western Michigan – 4; Bowling Green – 3; Buffalo – 2; Miami – 2; Kent State – 1      Â
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Players Mentioned
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