New Braunfels, Texas – Hardin-Simmons has been picked to finish first in the 2026 American Southwest Conference Women’s Soccer Preseason Poll following a vote by conference head coaches and sports information directors.
The Cowgirls finished the 2025 season as ASC Tournament Champions, earning the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Sophomore Tatum Barnett has been selected as the 2026 Preseason Offensive Player of the Year after earning First Team All-ASC honors as a freshman.
Mary Hardin-Baylor received two first-place votes and was picked to finish second after claiming the 2025 ASC regular-season championship. All three Crusaders named to the Players to Watch list earned All-ASC honors last season, including 2025 ASC Offensive Freshman of the Year Gracie Ruthven.
McMurry enters its first season back in the ASC ranked third in the preseason poll, while goalkeeper Avery Anders was selected as the 2026 Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. The Warhawks finished second in their conference last season with a 7-0-3 overall record.
Howard Payne and East Texas Baptist rounded out the top five, finishing fourth and fifth, respectively. Howard Payne returns 2025 ASC Goalkeeper of the Year Landry Combs, while East Texas Baptist named two players who earned All-ASC honors to its Players to Watch list.
Schreiner named Katelyn Boyd, Abby De Hoyos, and Aspen Ulibarri as three players to watch for the Mountaineers. The Mountaineers round out the preseason poll in sixth place.
2026 Preseason Poll
- Hardin-Simmons, 65 (8)
- Mary Hardin-Baylor, 59 (2)
- McMurry, 47 (1)
- Howard Payne, 37 (1)
- East Texas Baptist, 30
- Schreiner, 14
2026 ASC Preseason Players of the Year
Offensive: Tatum Barnett, Hardin-Simmons
Defensive: Avery Anders, McMurry
2026 Players to Watch
| Name |
Position |
Class |
School |
| Avery Anders * |
GK |
Sr. |
McMurry |
| Allie Angell * |
D |
Sr. |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
| Paige Barclay |
F |
Sr. |
East Texas Baptist |
| Tatum Barnett * |
MF |
So. |
Hardin-Simmons |
| Katelyn Boyd |
D |
Jr. |
Schreiner |
| Laila Brown * |
F |
Jr. |
McMurry |
| Landry Combs *G |
GK |
Gr. |
Howard Payne |
| Audrey Hall * |
D |
So. |
East Texas Baptist |
| Abby De Hoyos |
MF |
Jr. |
Schreiner |
| Taylor Koch * |
F |
Jr. |
Hardin-Simmons |
| Cienna Rodriguez * |
MF |
Jr. |
McMurry |
| Ella Ruff * |
MF |
Sr. |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
| Gracie Ruthven *OF |
F |
So. |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
| Grace Shurley * |
F |
Jr. |
East Texas Baptist |
| Lexi Templin * |
F |
Sr, |
Hardin-Simmons |
| Aspen Ulibarri * |
F |
Jr. |
Schreiner |
| Kendall Watkins * |
D |
Sr. |
Howard Payne |
| Abbie Wetzel * |
MF |
Sr. |
Howard Payne |
2025 All-Conference *
2025 Goalkeeper of the Year G
2025 Offensive Freshman of the Year OF