INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - The Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) has released the results of the 2026 Preseason Poll for women's soccer. The Malone University women's soccer team was voted to finish in a tie for eighth place in the conference.
 
Ashland University has had a stranglehold on the G-MAC crown with four out of the last five Tournament Championships and each of the last two regular season titles. The Eagles are preseason favorites once again with 119 points and ten first-place votes. Cedarville University received the two remaining first-place votes with 110 points total. The top three were solidly ahead of the pack with the University of Findlay in the third spot with 109 points. Malone had 44 points and were tied with Ohio Dominican University in the poll.
 
Head Coach Bailey Shattell is entering her seventh season at the helm of the Malone women's soccer program and with one win, will be in sole possession of second-place in team history in coaching victories. Last season, the Pioneers finished with a record of 5-9-3 and were 4-8-2 inside the G-MAC, good for ninth.
 
A majority of the scoring from 2025 has departed, but returning student-athletes Alyssa Schofield, Morgan Kandel, Emmilina Miller, Raegan Radel and Claire Charnock return to the pitch for Malone. Along with Kandel and Radel, the trio of Aubree Mellana, Nayeli Cruz and Mya Foukas competed in all 17 matches last season. Goalkeeper Amelia Henderhan was in net for all 17 matches as well and last season, took over the program's NCAA Division II era record for most career saves.
 
The Pioneers have five incoming athletes entering their first year of collegiate competition. Each of the incoming class members were recognized as all-conference performers at the high school level.
 
Malone begins their 2026 campaign on the road at Daemen University (August 27) and Roberts Wesleyan University (August 29) and return for their first home match on September 2 against West Liberty University.