GRINNELL, Iowa – The Illinois College women's soccer team was picked to finish second in the annual Midwest Conference Preseason Coaches Poll, the league announced today.
IC, which secured a first-place vote, tallied 81 points in the poll. The Lady Blues are coming off a 10-8-2 season in 2025, which included a 6-2-0 slate in MWC play, the best conference record in program history. IC has a pair of first-team all-conference returnees in sophomore
Katy Adler and junior
Aliza Rodriguez. They will be joined by a talented senior class of
Danielle Beach,
Olivia Hulsey,
Sophia Kriegesmann,
Erin O'Connell,
Abbi Renwick, and
Jourdan Stevens.
Three-time defending Midwest Conference champion Lake Forest was picked to win the MWC once again in 2026. The Foresters picked up 81 points and all nine possible first-place votes to pace the field.
After IC's 70 points came Lawrence with 68 points; rounding out the top half of the poll were Grinnell (54 points) and league newcomer Luther (46 points).
Ripon (41 points), Knox (29 points), Monmouth (27 points), Beloit (24 points) and Cornell (10 points) followed in the back half of the poll.
The Lady Blues open the 2026 campaign on September 1st at Central College.
For the first time, the Midwest Conference Women's Soccer Tournament features an expanded field of six teams who will compete for the tournament title and the automatic qualifier to the NCAA Tournament. Quarterfinal action commences on Tuesday, November 3 while the semifinals and finals are slated for Friday and Saturday (November 6-7).
2026 MWC Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll Results
1. Lake Forest College (9 first-place votes) - 81 points
2. Illinois College (1) - 70 points
3. Lawrence University - 68 points
4. Grinnell College - 54 points
5. Luther College - 46 points
6. Ripon College - 41 points
7. Knox College - 29 points
8. Monmouth College - 27 points
9. Beloit College - 24 points
10. Cornell College - 10 points
() – indicates first-place votes
