HICKORY, N.C. – The United Soccer Coaches (USC) Preseason Poll has Lenoir-Rhyne ranked eighth to kick off the 2026 season.

The Bears are no stranger to being ranked, as they have spent 75 weeks in the top-25 since the 2010 season. This includes a year-end ranking of fourth in 2021 and eighth in 2010, 2023, and 2025.

Coming off of a 13-5-3 season with an appearance in the NCAA quarterfinals, second-year head coach Justin Maullin returns Second Team All-Region selections Ava Hartman and last year’s team leader in goals, assists, and total points, Katie Durham. The Bears also retain five 2025 All-SAC honorees, including Hartman, Durham, Mya Rivera, Ingrid Krakhellen, and Rosa Gonzalez.

The Bears start the 2026 campaign on Thursday, August 27th, at home in a key early-season clash with Tampa. Lenoir-Rhyne will host Concord on Sunday, August 30th, before a trip to Florence, S.C., to face the Patriots of Francis Marion on Wednesday, September 2nd. The Bears begin conference play on Saturday, September 5th, at home against Carson-Newman.

{Information provided by Lenoir-Rhyne Athletics}