BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – The Ohio Valley Conference released its 2026 women's soccer preseason poll Wednesday with SIUE picked fifth overall.
SIUE goalkeeper Sarah Bozeman and sophomore newcomer Tori Bockstadter were tabbed as the Cougars' Players to Watch this season.
The 2026 season gets underway later today with a 3:30 p.m. exhibition game for the Cougars at UIC. The regular season officially begins Aug. 12 with a 3 p.m. game at Alabama A&M.
Three different schools earned first-place votes in the league preseason poll led by Lindenwood, Eastern Illinois and Southern Indiana. UT Martin was picked fourth followed by SIUE, Southeast Missouri, Morehead State, and Western Illinois.
This year marks the 28th OVC Women's Soccer Championship. The event starts on campus sites with the first round on Nov. 5 as the No. 5 seed hosts No. 8 seed while No. 6 seed hosts No. 7 seed. The winners will move on to the second round where the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds host matches on Nov. 8.
The event switches to the site of the No. 1 seed the following weekend with semifinal and Championship matches on Nov. 12 and 15.
2026 OVC Women's Soccer Predicted Order of Finish
1. Lindenwood (9) - 93
2. Eastern Illinois (5) - 87
3. Southern Indiana (2) - 77
4. UT Martin - 55
5. SIUE - 52
6. Southeast Missouri - 39
7. Morehead State - 31
8. Western Illinois - 14
2026 Women's Soccer Returning All-OVC
Colleen Bauer, Jr., D – Eastern Illinois
Ella Kratochvil, Sr., GK – Eastern Illinois
Alex Tetteh, Sr., F – Eastern Illinois
Mackenzie Compton, Jr., F – Lindenwood
Tasneem Dizdarevic, Jr., MF – Lindenwood
Allison Schrumpf, Sr., D – Lindenwood
Emma Schut, Jr., D – Southern Indiana
Peyton Cook, Sr., F – UT Martin
Mac Titus, R-Sr., GK – UT Martin
2026 OVC Women's Soccer Watch List
Abby Reinl, Sr., F – Eastern Illinois
Brooklyn Greene, Sr., MF - Eastern Illinois
Anna Johnson, Sr., F – Lindenwood
Caroline Ritter, Jr., GK – Lindenwood
Faith Pepper, Fr., D – Morehead State
Hannah Burke, Sr., D – Morehead State
Laia Amat, Jr., D – Southeast Missouri
Rachel Kretzer, So., MF – Southeast Missouri
Tori Bockstadter, So. F – SIUE
Sarah Bozeman, Sr. GK – SIUE
Ava Hess, Jr., MF - Southern Indiana
Payton Seymour, Gr., F - Southern Indiana
Unni Wolf, Jr., MF – UT Martin
Millie Perry, Jr., F – UT Martin
Hope Welsh, Jr., D – Western Illinois
Rita Moran, Jr., D – Western Illinois
