BECKLEY, W.Va. - WVU Tech women's soccer will enter the 2026 season as the preseason favorite in the River States Conference.
The Golden Bears were selected first in the 2026 RSC Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll, released Thursday by the conference office. WVU Tech received six of nine first-place votes and finished with a league-high 60 points.
The preseason recognition follows a 2025 campaign in which Tech went 7-2-1 in conference play and advanced to the RSC Championship final.
WVU Tech was also the only conference team to take a point from eventual two-time defending champion Oakland City during the regular season, battling the Mighty Oaks to a 1-1 draw.
The Golden Bears continued their run in the postseason, advancing past Brescia in the RSC quarterfinals following a penalty shootout before earning a 3-0 victory over IU Kokomo in the semifinals to secure a spot in the conference championship match.
With Oakland City no longer a member of the conference, WVU Tech enters 2026 atop what is expected to be a competitive RSC race.
IU Kokomo was picked second with 53 points and received two first-place votes after finishing 7-1-2 in conference play last season. IU East was selected third with 49 points, while Brescia received the remaining first-place vote and sits fourth with 48 points.
Rio Grande rounds out the top five, followed by IU Columbus, Midway, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods and Kentucky Christian.
RSC women's soccer competition begins Aug. 20, the first scheduled NAIA play date. Conference play is scheduled to begin Sept. 24, with the RSC Championship set for Nov. 4, 7 and 11.
2026 RSC Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll
- WVU Tech - 60 points (6 first-place votes)
- IU Kokomo - 53 points (2 first-place votes)
- IU East - 49 points
- Brescia - 48 points (1 first-place vote)
- Rio Grande - 40 points
- IU Columbus - 27 points
- Midway - 22 points
- Saint Mary-of-the-Woods - 17 points
- Kentucky Christian - 8 points
