CORBIN, Ky. – The coaches of the Appalachian Athletics Conference have determined that the University of Pikeville will have the same finish as it did a season ago.
 
Truett McConnell (Ga.) was picked to repeat as league champion, getting 11 of the 13 first-place votes. The Bears were a perfect 13-0 in the regular season and advanced to play in the NAIA tournament, where it finished 1-1-1.
 
Tennessee Wesleyan, which won the league tournament a year ago, is picked to finish second and got the other two first-place votes.
 
Milligan, Columbia International and Reinhardt round out the Top 5.
 
UPike is picked sixth in the poll. The Bears were 7-4-2 in the AAC last season in their first season under Coach Shane Taylor.
 
The Bears were 9-7-3 overall last year.
 
UPike scored 49 goals last season and the players credited with all but two of those are back. They are led by senior Jayla Boyd, an all-conference performer who led the team with 15 goals and with eight assists. She was third in the league in goals and in points scored.
 
Senior Charlene Lofqvist was tied for fourth with 12 goals last season, and her 30 points was also fourth in the conference.
 
Three other players scored multiple goals last season and all return. Junior Sara Ritter had nine goals and six assists a season ago. Junior Rebekah Christopher recorded six goals and two assists, while senior Kylie Ritter had three goals and an assist.
 
The season opens on Wednesday, Aug. 26, when the Bears travel to play Mount Vernon Nazarene (Ohio). The home opener is Saturday, Aug. 29, when they host WVU Tech at Bob Amos Park in a match scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.
 
The preseason poll, with first-place votes in parenthesis and total points, is as follows:
 
2026 AAC Women's Soccer Preseason Poll
School (First-Place Votes) - Total Voting Points
1. Truett McConnell (11) - 180
2. Tennessee Wesleyan (2) - 170
3. Milligan - 141
4. Columbia International - 134
5. Reinhardt - 130
6. Pikeville - 124
7. Montreat - 103
8. Brenau - 86
9. Spartanburg Methodist - 69
10. Johnson - 65
11. Columbia - 59
12. Union Commonwealth - 55
13. Bryan - 36
14. Bluefield – 13