Lancaster, Pa. – (8/26/2026) – Less than a week before opening day, Atlantic East Conference (AEC) Commissioner Rebecca Mullen has officially released the results of the 2026 Women's Soccer Preseason Poll. Garnering five of the six available first-place votes and totaling 25 points, Marymount University placed atop the coaches' standings forecast. Immaculata University received the remaining first-place vote, but ranked fourth with 16 total points. Gwynedd Mercy University placed third, earning 17 total points from the league's head coaches.
 
Following the Saints, the projection listed Pratt Institute (18 total points), the Griffins (17), the Mighty Macs (16, 1 first-place vote), Centenary University (N.J.) (9), and Saint Elizabeth University (5).
 
Predicted to finish as the final qualifying team for the 2025 AEC Women's Soccer Championship Tournament, Gwynedd Mercy University did just that with their 11-9-1 overall record and a 3-4 mark in conference play. What the preseason poll could not predict was the determination of the Red and Gold, whose grit and resilience propelled the Griffins past a 4-2 AEC First Round win over #4 Pratt Institute (Nov. 1) and a 1-0 AEC Semifinal victory over #1 Marywood University (Nov. 4), to their first league championship appearance since the 2015 Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) Championship (L, 0-1 @ #1 Cabrini College on Nov. 7). Unfortunately, Gwynedd Mercy University fell just shy of hoisting the trophy as 2024 AEC Runner-Up, Marymount University (L, 0-4 on Nov. 8) succeeded in their second league championship in the last three seasons.
 
The complete results of the 2026 AEC Women's Soccer Preseason Poll are available list below and available by using the provided links.
 
2026 Atlantic East Conference (AEC) Women's Soccer Preseason Poll
 

Rank. Team	Points	First-Place Votes
1. Marymount University	25	5
2. Pratt Institute	18
3. Gwynedd Mercy University	17
4. Immaculata University	16	1
5. Centenary University (N.J.)	9
6. Saint Elizabeth University	5