LANCASTER, Pa. – Four-time defending champion Johns Hopkins has been chosen as the favorite to repeat in the 2026 Centennial Conference Women's Soccer Preseason Poll. The Blue Jays nabbed eight first-place votes and 97 points to secure in the top spot in the preseason prognostication of CC head coaches.
Swarthmore, the 2025 tournament runner-up, secured the remaining three first-place nods and 93 points to narrowly finish in second place in the voting. Dickinson was picked third with 80 points, while Franklin & Marshall (75), Gettysburg (60) and Washington College (47) were also projected as playoff teams in fourth through sixth, respectively.
Haverford (39), McDaniel (38), Ursinus (38), Muhlenberg (28) and Bryn Mawr (10) rounded out the poll.
Kickoff for the 2026 season is set for Tuesday, Sept. 1 with nine of the 11 CC teams in action on opening day. All 11 teams will open the year by Thursday, Sept. 3. Conference play commences on Saturday, Sept. 19, with the six-team CC tournament is scheduled for November 3-6-8 with the higher seeds hosting each round.
2026 Centennial Conference Women's Soccer Preseason Poll
| Rank | Institution (First-Place Votes) |
Points |
| 1. Johns Hopkins (8) |
97 |
| 2. Swarthmore (3) |
93 |
| 3. Dickinson |
80 |
| 4. Franklin & Marshall |
75 |
| 5. Gettysburg |
60 |
| 6. Washington College |
47 |
| 7. Haverford |
39 |
| 8T. McDaniel |
38 |
| 8T. Ursinus |
38 |
| 10. Muhlenberg |
28 |
| 11. Bryn Mawr |
10 |
2026 Schedule | 2025 Championship Results | 2025 All-Centennial Team | History & Records | United Soccer Coaches Rankings
This year's two preseason favorites - Johns Hopkins and Swarthmore - are fresh off of NCAA Sweet 16 appearances from a season ago. The 2025 campaign marked the fifth time in conference history and first time since 2019 that multiple CC teams advanced to the Sweet 16. Both teams were denied a trip to the Elite Eight, with Hopkins dropping a 3-1 decision to eventual national runner-up Emory and Swarthmore falling to Carleton in penalty kicks.
Hopkins captured last year's CC title game in dramatic fashion, with Maria Romo-Nichols scoring the game-winner in the 88th minute to down Swarthmore on the road, 2-1. The Blue Jays' 18 titles are easily the most in conference history, with Gettysburg (5), Muhlenberg (3), Swarthmore (3), Haverford (2) and McDaniel (1) also having hoisted the CC trophy throughout the 32 years that women's soccer has been contested in the conference.
Swarthmore forward Ava Gizzie headlines the list of returners this fall. A 2025 second team All-America pick, Gizzie is a three-time first team All-Region and three-time first team All-Centennial selection and the reigning CC Offensive Player of the Year. Already one of just 32 players to earn first team All-CC accolades three times, the senior has a chance to become one of just 12 four-time first team honorees with another standout campaing this season. Gizzie's 31 career goals currently ranks tied for 35th on the CC all-time list.
Eleven All-Region and 23 All-Centennial performers from seven different teams will be back on the pitch this year, showcasing the depth of talent that remains throughout the conference. Joining Gizzie as multi-time All-Region selections are Swarthmore defender Aminah Evans and F&M defender Colleen Ferrarese. Players with three All-Centennial honors to their names include Gizzie and Ferrarese, while two-time all-stars include Dickinson midfielder Bridget Merkel, McDaniel defender Alexis Keller-Posen, Swarthmore forward Charlotte Carleton, midfielder Celia Kanellakos and Evans, and the Washington College trio of goalkeeper Olivia Allen, forward Sophie Kilbride and midfielder Kaileigh Brady.
Swarthmore (13) and Johns Hopkins (15) are both ranked In the United Soccer Coaches Preseason National Rankings.
Returning All-Americans (1)
Ava Gizzie, Swarthmore, Sr., F (2025 Second Team)
Returning All-Region (11)
Joelle Ma, Dickinson, So., D (2025 Second Team)
Ava Prisco, Dickinson, Sr., F (2025 Second Team)
Bridget Merkel, Dickinson, Sr., M (2024 Third Team)
Colleen Ferrarese, Franklin & Marshall, Sr., D (2025 Third Team, 2024 Third Team)
Emerson McDonald, Franklin & Marshall, So., F (2025 Second Team)
Ava Gizzie, Swarthmore, Sr., F (2025 First Team, 2024 First Team, 2023 First Team)
Aminah Evans, Swarthmore, Jr., D (2025 Second Team, 2024 Third Team)
Celia Kanellakos, Swarthmore, Jr., M (2025 First Team)
Nicole Jensen, Swarthmore, Jr., M (2025 Third Team)
Kaileigh Brady, Washington College, Sr., M (2025 Third Team)
Sophie Kilbride, Washington College, Sr., F (2025 Third Team)
Returning All-Centennial (23)
Ava Prisco, Dickinson, Sr., F (2025 First Team)
Bridget Merkel, Dickinson, Sr., M (2025 Second Team, 2024 Second Team)
Norah Heacock, Dickinson, Sr., M (2025 Second Team)
Joelle Ma, Dicinson, So., D (2025 Second Team)
Colleen Ferrarese, Franklin & Marshall, Sr., D (2025 Second Team, 2024 First Team, 2023 Honorable Mention)
Emerson McDonald, Franklin & Marshall, Fr., F (2025 First Team)
Ellison Errington, Franklin & Marshall, Jr., F (2025 Second Team)
Lucy Fleming, Franklin & Marshall, Sr., GK (2025 Honorable Mention)
Carolyn Johnson, Johns Hopkins, Jr., M (2025 First Team)
Alexis Keller-Posen, McDaniel, Sr., D (2025 Honorable Mention, 2024 Honorable Mention)
Ava Gizzie, Swarthmore, Sr., F (2025 First Team, 2024 First Team, 2023 First Team & Rookie OTY)
Aminah Evans, Swarthmore, Jr., D (2025 First Team, 2024 Second Team & Rookie OTY)
Charlotte Carleton, Swarthmore, Sr., F (2025 Honorable Mention, 2024 Honorable Mention)
Celia Kanellakos, Swarthmore, Jr., M (2025 First Team, 2024 Honorable Mention)
Nicole Jensen, Swarthmore, Jr., M (2025 Second Team)
Haley Lewinski, Swarthmore, Jr., D (2025 Honorable Mention)
Lauren Lior, Swarthmore, Sr., F (2023 First Team)
Mallory Toomey, Ursinus, Jr., GK (2025 Second Team)
Taylor Pezulich, Ursinus, Jr., F (2025 Honorable Mention)
Olivia Allen, Washington College, Sr., GK (2025 Honorable Mention, 2024 Second Team)
Sophie Kilbride, Washington College, Sr., F (2025 Second Team, 2024 Honorable Mention)
Kaileigh Brady, Washington College, Sr., M (2025 Second Team, 2024 Honorable Mention)
Grace Morris, Washington College, Sr., D (2024 Honorable Mention)
