BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - After directing his first two Lee University women soccer teams to 15 wins against only four Gulf South Conference regular-season defeats, Coach Lee Hughes and his Flames are picked to finish No.1 when the 2026 regular season is completed.
Lee received 10 first place votes in the GSC Preseason Coaches' Poll. The University of Montevallo registered the other two first place tallies. The University of West Alabama is third, followed by Delta State University and Mississippi Christian University rounding out the top five in the 12-team field. The University of West Florida claimed the 2025 title but has left the NCAA DII ranks, joining DI and the Atlantic Sun Conference.
"It's nice to be recognized as a team, and is certainly a testament to the work the girls have put in. That said, we don't put too much stock into polls, instead we prefer to focus on our inner circle and what's next for us. We are very excited for this season," Coach Hughes said as he reviewed the coaches' poll.
The Lady Flames lost three of their All-South Region standouts to graduation in Grace Berry, Alaysia Nye, and Avery Sides but are blessed with a pair of 2026 All-GSC Coaches' Preseason Team selections in junior defender
Whitney Carrigan and junior midfielder
Megan Davis. Carrigan was a 2025 First Team GSC honoree while Davis was a member the 2025 All-GSC Second Team. As customary, Coach Hughes did not list any of his players on the 2026 Newcomers list.
Lee will open the regular season in Daytona, Fla. on August 27, facing Embry-Riddle University, take a day off and go against Frankin Pierce University in Melbourne, Fla. on August 29. The Flames begin home play on September 2, hosting the University of North Georgia (5 p.m.) at the Ray Conn Sports Complex.
2026 GSC Women's Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll
1. Lee (10), 120 points
2. Montevallo (2), 112 points
3. West Alabama, 94 points
4. Delta State, 87 points
5. Mississippi Christian, 86 points
6. Valdosta State, 64 points
7. UAH, 61 points
8. Spring Hill, 48 points
9. Union, 43 points
10. Trevecca Nazarene, 38 points
11. AUM, 27 points
12. Christian Brothers, 12 points
First-place votes in parentheses
2026 GSC Women's Soccer Preseason Team
Carley White, Sr., M, UAH
Millie Congerton, Sr., F, Delta State
Whitney Carrigan, Jr., D, Lee
Megan Davis, Jr., M, Lee^
Isabel Dillehay, Sr., F, Montevallo
Ayla Ertekin, So., F, Montevallo^
Lainey Farabaugh, Sr., M, Montevallo*
Shelby Irwin, Gr., D, Montevallo
Madysen Legere, Gr., D, Montevallo^
Sofia Jimenez Garcia, Sr., M, Spring Hill
Rebekah Jackson, Sr., F, Union
Yumari Hernandez, So., GK, West Alabama^
Santanna O'Grady, Sr., D, West Alabama
Organized alphabetically by school
* 2025 First Team All-GSC
^ 2025 Second Team All-GSC
2026 GSC Women's Soccer Newcomers to Watch
AC Blackaby, UAH (Fr., M/F, Cleveland, Tenn.)
Tuva Lindström, UAH (Fr., M, Stockholm, Sweden)
Eva Hendriks, AUM (FR., F, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
Lily Hillegas, AUM (Fr., D, Pittsburgh, Pa.)
Rachel Wain, AUM (Fr., F, Fishers, Ind.)
Lille Grace McCuthen, Mississippi Christian (Jr., M, Oxford, Miss.)
Kerri Ann O'Hara, Mississippi Christian (Jr., F, Tubbercurry, Ireland)
Emma Arkus, Montevallo (Gr., D, Long Beach)
Mia Matherne, Montevallo (Fr., M, Pensacola, Fla.)
Karsyn Ross, Montevallo (So., M, Kelso, Wash.)
Clemence Raoult, Spring Hill (Jr., M, Mauguio, France)
Miranda Reyna Campos, Spring Hill (Fr., D, Saltillo, Mexico)
Baileigh Rumage, Spring Hill (Fr., F/M, Birmingham, Ala.)
Elsa Bengtsson, Trevecca Nazarene (So., F, Tyreso, Sweden)
Emma Burnham, Trevecca Nazarene (So., D, Eastham, England)
Olivia Ulfvin, Trevecca Nazarene (Fr., D, Stockholm, Sweden)
Ava DeChellis, Valdosta State (Fr., M, Welland, Ont., Canada)
Natalie Ocampo, Valdosta State (Fr., M, Orlando, Fla.)
Tianna Kylsh, West Alabama (Jr., F, Winnipeg, Mantioba, Canada)
Sophia Perez Jimenez, West Alabama (Jr., M, Parras Coahilia, Mexico)
Kya Jacobs, West Alabama (So., F, Guelph, Ontario, Canada)
