BRIGHTON, Mich. -- Calvin University has been selected as the preseason favorite in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association's (MIAA) 2026 Women’s Soccer Preseason Poll after collecting 62 points and six first-place votes. Hope College follows closely with 59 points and three first-place votes, while Trine University rounds out the top three with 48 points.
The MIAA announced the preseason poll following a vote of the league’s nine head coaches. The 2026 season features a strong group of returning All-MIAA and All-Region selections, including several players who earned First Team recognition during the 2025 campaign.
1. Calvin University – 62 points (6 first-place votes)
Calvin captured the 2025 MIAA regular-season title with a perfect 8-0 conference record and finished 16-5 overall. The Knights went on to claim the 2025 MIAA Women’s Soccer Tournament Presented by Collegiate Credit Union championship for the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Senior midfielder/forward Mikaela Waroway leads Calvin’s returning group after becoming a two-time All-MIAA honoree with a First Team selection last season. Waroway also earned Second Team All-Region honors from the United Soccer Coaches. Senior defender/forward Peyton Pratt adds another experienced piece after earning Second Team All-MIAA recognition in 2025. Calvin will also welcome back fifth-year senior Lucy Iverson, who missed the 2025 season due to injury. Iverson was named the 2023 MIAA Most Valuable Player and earned First Team All-MIAA honors in 2022, 2023, and 2024. She was also selected as a 2024 United Soccer Coaches First Team All-American.
Head coach Emily Ottenhoff enters her ninth season at the helm after being named the 2025 MIAA Women’s Soccer Coach of the Year.
2. Hope College – 59 points (3 first-place votes)
Hope finished second in the MIAA standings last year with a 7-1 conference record and a 12-4-3 overall mark.
Junior defender Adelyn Raad highlights the returning group after earning First Team All-MIAA honors in 2025. Senior goalkeeper Clara Feenstra enters her final season as a two-time All-MIAA honoree after earning First Team recognition last year and Third Team All-Region honors. Junior defender Mia Hesley is also a two-time All-MIAA honoree after earning Second Team honors in 2025, along with Third Team All-Region recognition.
3. Trine University – 48 points
Trine finished third in the MIAA last season with a 5-2-1 conference record and a 9-4-6 overall mark.
The Thunder will be led by midfielder Ava Leihgeber, who was named the 2025 MIAA Newcomer of the Year and earned Second Team All-MIAA honors. Junior midfielder Erin Scully also returns after earning a spot on the 2025 All-MIAA Second Team.
Trine welcomes Alyssa Krause as its new head coach. Krause joins the Thunder after spending the previous three seasons as the associate head coach at Division I Southern Illinois-Edwardsville.
4. Kalamazoo College – 41 points
Kalamazoo finished fourth in the MIAA last year with a 3-2-3 conference record and a 10-6-4 overall mark.
Senior midfielder/forward Ruby Hogan leads the Hornets after becoming a three-time All-MIAA honoree with a First Team selection in 2025. Junior goalkeeper Jess Forbis also provides experience in net after recording 39 saves during conference play last season.
5. Adrian College – 35 points
Adrian finished sixth in the MIAA last season with a 3-5 conference record and a 6-11-2 overall mark.
Junior midfielder Delaney Batur is the Bulldogs’ top returning scorer with three goals, including the game winner against Saint Mary's, and five assists for 11 points in 2025. Adrian also brings back starting senior defenders Melanie Perhne and senior Bri Aikens.
6. Albion College – 33 points
Albion placed fifth in the MIAA last year with a 3-3-2 conference record and a 10-5-2 overall mark.
Sophomore forward Chloe Salo and sophomore midfielder Diane Hurtado headline the returning group after each earned Second Team All-MIAA honors during their first collegiate seasons in 2025.
7. Saint Mary’s College – 22 points
Saint Mary’s finished seventh in the MIAA last season with a 2-6-1 conference record and an 8-6-3 overall mark.
Sophomore forward Mia Johnson returns after earning Second Team All-MIAA honors last season. Junior goalkeeper Keona Caraballo also returns between the posts after recording 23 saves during the regular season.
8. Alma College – 16 points
Alma finished eighth in last year's MIAA standings with a 1-6-1 conference record and a 9-8-1 overall mark.
Junior midfielder Emily Ahearn leads the Scots’ returning group after recording a team-best four goals and nine points during conference play last season. Senior goalkeeper Mya Pofahl also returns after totaling 25 saves against MIAA opponents.
9. The University of Olivet – 8 points
Olivet rounds out the preseason poll after finishing ninth in the MIAA with an 0-8 conference record and a 2-15 overall mark in 2025.
Senior midfielder Kelsie Finazzo returns as the Comets’ leading scorer. Sophomore goalkeeper Natalie Rose also returns after recording 55 saves last season and posting a .705 save percentage.
Up Ahead
The 2026 MIAA women’s soccer regular season begins Wednesday, September 30, with Saint Mary’s hosting Hope, Kalamazoo hosting Olivet, Trine hosting Alma, and Adrian hosting Calvin. The 2026 MIAA Women’s Soccer Tournament Presented by Collegiate Credit Union is scheduled for October 31 (first round), November 4 (semifinals), and November 7 (final).