ATLANTA, Ga. -- Covenant women's soccer was selected third in the CCS preseason poll with one first-place vote and 27 points, announced the conference on Monday.

The voting was conducted by the head coaches at the seven CCS institutions.

In 2025, the women's soccer program had a 6-9-2 overall mark and a 5-2-1 CCS record, earning fourth in the CCS standings, but they fell to eventual CCS champion Asbury in the quarterfinals of the CCS tournament.

In 2026, the team prepares to make their jump to the top of the standings behind some key roster returners and additions.

Head coach Mark Duble will lead the group for his 33rd season at the helm, assisted by eight-season assistant Rachel Duble and JohnMark Duble.

Six seniors lead off the returning force, including All-CCS Second Team keeper Bronwyn Kickasola and two-time All-CCS First Team defender Gretchen Caswell. Lila Wiley, Abby Eastes, and Blythe Jelley return some scoring punch, while keeper Abby Zimbelman held her opponents scoreless in her appearances last season.

Among the seven juniors are All-CCS First Team forward AnnaLi Weekley and All-CCS Second Team defender Autumn Biancamano, along with seasoned midfielders Campbell Ayres, Clara Norris, Tess Duble, and Sarah Buckingham. Rounding out the junior class is forward Emma Anderson, who looks to add to the scoring depth.

Eight sophomores complete the returning class, headed up by All-CCS Second Team honoree Georgie Strawbridge, who combined with fellow sophomore midfielders Camille Raymond and Aimee Babb for six goals in 2025. Hayden Shababy, Aggie Gordon, Charlotte Jerdal, Chloe Jordan, and forward Abbey Heupel round out the sophomore class.

Adding to the returning athletes are 13 new faces: goalkeepers Maggie Jamison and Grace Topper, forwards Maren Halvorson, Sydney Morris, Abi Markey, Oli Conrad, and Anna Blackburn, midfielders Elle Cherry and Emmy Ewell, along with defenders AT Simon, Kensley Elam, Eve Fuller, and Paige McClarnon. 

15 matches await the Scots on the 2026 schedule, beginning with a road date with Sewanee on Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. They begin their home season with a Tuesday matchup with Berry on September 8, and also begin their CCS slate at home against Piedmont on September 19.

Homecoming on September 26 pits Covenant against Huntingdon in front of a packed house, and a senior day celebration on October 17 against LaGrange wraps up the home season. The regular season concludes on the road against Belhaven on October 24.

The CCS Tournament has been slated for October 31 and November 6-7 in Huntsville, Ala., hosted by the Merrimack Soccer Complex.

Belhaven was selected first in the CCS preseason poll, earning four first-place votes and 33 points. 

CONNECT WITH THE SCOTS

Be sure to follow the Scots all season long on athletics.covenant.edu and on social media at Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for up-to-date scores, news and other information.