FAIRMONT, W.Va. -- Point Park was picked to finish fourth in the north division in the Mountain East Conference Women's Soccer Preseason Poll, the league office announced on Thursday.
Point Park returns last year's MEC Freshman of the Year and First Team All-MEC selection Rebecca Pihlgren at forward. Pihlgren led the team with 11 goals and 27 points and finished second on the team with five assists. She tied for third in the MEC in goals and finished second in the conference in points in 2025.
Pihlgren is one of seven Pioneers who finished in the top 12 on the team in points in 2025 who will be back on the squad in 2026.
Fairmont State was picked to finish first in the north division, garnering nine of the 12 first-place votes. West Virginia State was tabbed to lead the south division, picking up eight first-place votes.
Fairmont State, the reigning MEC Champions, finished the 2025 at the NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Championship Second Round. Fairmont State returns with D2CCA All-Atlantic Region Second Team and All-MEC First Team selection Valentina Gianinetto, in addition to four returning all-conference selections. The Falcons also enter the 2026 season under new Head Coach Alex Zaroyan.
West Virginia State claimed the 2025 MEC South Division Title, posting a record of 15-5-1 with a mark of 14-1-1 in conference play. The Yellowjackets concluded their season last year at the NCAA Atlantic Regional First Round, falling to No. 2 West Chester. West Virginia State returns this season with All-MEC selections Leila Karam, Sara París Fílter and Hannah Aneley Nuñez Perreira.
After Fairmont State, Frostburg State and West Liberty are tied for second in the north division, and Davis & Elkins and Wheeling follow behind Point Park. Charleston, Concord, West Virginia Wesleyan, Glenville State and MEC-newcomer Shawnee State round out of the south division rankings.
Point Park will open the 2026 campaign on Aug. 27 against Findlay, and will play its home and conference opener on Sept. 6 against Wheeling at F.N.B. Stadium.
