BRIDGEWATER, N.J. — The Wagner College women's soccer team was picked third in the NEC's 2026 preseason coaches' poll, the conference announced Tuesday.
The program landed third in the poll for the second consecutive season, receiving four first-place votes after capturing its first NEC Tournament championship last season. The Seahawks are coming off a historic campaign in which they posted an 11-3-6 overall record with an 8-1-2 mark in NEC play, which helped them earn their first-ever NCAA Tournament berth.
Entering the first season under head coach Fred King, Wagner returns four of its five All-NEC selections from last season in junior
Hailey Knapp, senior
Alana Goldsmith, junior
Abigail Marcello and freshman
Riley Frederick. Knapp started all 22 matches on the back line and earned an NEC Defensive Player of the Week honor during the season. Goldsmith recorded five goals and 14 points in 2025, while Marcello posted an 8-2-2 record in goal with five shutouts. Frederick was named NEC Tournament Most Valuable Player after scoring the golden goal in the 104th minute against CCSU to win Wagner to its first NEC Championship.
FDU topped the preseason poll with seven first-place votes, followed by CCSU in second and Wagner in third with four first-place votes.
The complete preseason coaches' poll is below.
1. FDU (7)
2. CCSU
3. Wagner (4)
4. Howard
5. Stonehill
6. LIU
7. Mercyhurst
8. Delaware State
9. Chicago State
10. Le Moyne
11. New Haven
The Seahawks will begin their season on Thursday, Aug. 13, at 7 p.m. ET when they host Rider at Hameline Field. The game will be streamed on NEC Front Row.
