AMHERST, N.Y. — The East Coast Conference released its 2026 women's soccer preseason poll on Monday, with Daemen being selected third. 

In the poll, Daemen received 45 points, slotting the Wildcats in the No. 3 slot. Mercy was selected first with 62 points (six first-place votes), followed by Molloy with 52 points (one first-place vote). Roberts Wesleyan trailed Daemen in fourth with 40 points, followed by Queens in fifth with 37 points (one first-place vote). D'Youville (27 points) was selected sixth, St. Thomas Aquinas (14 points) was picked seventh, and Staten Island (11 points) rounded out the standings in eighth. 

The Wildcats finished the 2025 season with an 11-6-0 record, including a 4-2-1 mark in ECC play. Daemen defeated Queens 2-1 in the first round of the ECC Tournament, before falling 4-1 to Mercy in the semifinals. 

Four All-ECC selections return for the Wildcats this season. Kaitlyn Wright (Geneva, N.Y.) and Macayla Hansen (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) both garnered first-team accolades, while Kaitlin Mettler (Royalton, N.Y.) and Ava Thompson (East Amherst, N.Y.) earned second-team honors.

Daemen will play 16 games this season, including eight at home and eight on the road. The Wildcats begin the year with four straight contests at Royal Park. Daemen will host Malone on Aug. 27 in their season opener before welcoming Thomas More two days later. Post visits on Sept. 4, and the homestand wraps up against Tiffin on Sept. 6. ECC play begins on Sept. 19 with a road contest at Molloy. The first home conference match will be on Sept. 26 against Mercy. 

2026 ECC Women's Soccer Preseason Poll
1. Mercy - 62 points (6 first-place votes)
2. Molloy - 52 points (1 first-place vote)
3. Daemen - 45 points
4. Roberts Wesleyan - 40 points
5. Queens - 37 points (1 first-place vote)
6. D'Youville - 27 points
7. St. Thomas Aquinas - 14 points
8. Staten Island - 11 points

Offensive Player of the Year
Hailey Metzger - Mercy

Defensive Player of the Year
Sarah Lill Hanks - Mercy

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Daemen University features the premier NCAA Division II athletics program in the Buffalo-Niagara region, sponsoring 17 intercollegiate teams. For the latest information on Daemen Athletics, follow the Wildcats via social media on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram, or sign up to receive customizable news alerts, e-mail newsletters and weekly schedule alerts.
 
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