KANSAS CITY. Mo. – The first regular season STADIONIC NAIA Women’s Soccer Coaches’ Top 25 poll is here and it features a ton of movement. The first two weekends of the season had a plethora of top 25 duels as teams from around the country loaded up and put in their first miles of the season. Teams from the southeast traveled to the Midwest, and teams from the Midwest made the journey to the Great Lakes region. Among the movement, Cumberlands (Ky.) climbed to No. 1 while Keiser (Fla.) slid one spot to No. 2. The only team to hold steady, No. 3 Embry-Riddle (Ariz.). The next regular season STADIONIC NAIA Women’s Soccer Coaches’ Top 25 Poll will be released on Wednesday, September 16.
Cumberlands (Ky.) (2-0-1)
The Patriots opened the new season with two wins over five days, both of which were on their home pitch. After a 3-0 victory over Union Commonwealth (Ky.) on the 22nd, UC had their first test of the season. A top 10 matchup with Truett McConnell (Ga.) who at the time was ranked No. 8 before climbing this week to No. 7. Cumberlands got the 2-1 decision behind contributions from Abigail Little and Leticia Traversone. Morgan White earned the win making two saves in her complete match win.
UC has another big test on deck for September 5 when they visit No. 5 Indiana Wesleyan in Marion, Ind.
Keiser (Fla.) (3-0-1)
The Seahawks are on the right track to start the 2026 season. After a season opening victory against Barry, KU was able to escape with a 1-1 draw against William Carey (Miss.) after conceding a goal early in the second half at home. The Seahawks got back into the win column four days later against Carroll (Mont.) with a 2-0 result.
The early season home stand continues for Keiser through September 10 when they host the current No. 8 ranked team in Grace (Ind.), before traveling to top ranked Cumberlands (Ky.) on the 12th.
Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) (2-0-0)
The Eagles in just two games so far this season have not been scared to shoot, averaging 29.5 shots per game, with seven goals scored. Embry-Riddle made the early season flight over to Cumberland (Tenn.) back on August 22nd, where they picked up a 3-1 result as Kaylie Speer, Natalia Sepulveda, and Kaitlyn Roskopf all found the back on the net in that game. ERAU continued to show how dangerous they can be in the offensive third of the field when Oregon Tech traveled to Prescott. Jamie Brandon and Tessa Updegraff both put away two goals in the match.
ERAU is back on the pitch September 3 then they welcome Southern Oregon to town before traveling to OUAZ on September 10.
Marian (Ind.) (3-0-1)
The Knights have opened their 2026 campaign with a goal scoring frenzy. Three matches played, 60 total shots, 37 shots on goal, and 16 goals scored so far. Seven different student-athletes have a goal already this season for Marian as Olivia Parmer and Sammie King lead the team with four each. In their first top 25 test of the season against Science & Arts (Okla.) MU cruised to a 3-0 victory. Before that match, Marian put away seven goals against St. Francis (Ill.) and six against St. Ambrose (Iowa), all on their home pitch.
Next up for the Knights, a three match road trip, two in Illinois then one in Ohio.
Indiana Wesleyan (4-0-0)
The Wildcats Made one of the largest jumps of the week up from No. 11 in the preseason poll. Four matches played, 12 total goals scored thus far, and none against. IWU’s senior forward in Alyssa Hamann has been locked in with half of the Wildcats total goals to this point. Defensively, senior goalkeeper and week one PrestoSports NAIA Women’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week winner, Avery Sluss has also been an anchor for the team being called upon just 10 times so far.
Looking ahead for IWU they hit the road for a match later today against Rochester Christian before taking on top ranked Cumberlands (Ky.) on September 5 at home.
| TREND | RANK | LAST TIME | TEAM [FIRST-PLACE VOTES] | RECORDS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▲ | 1 | 2 | Cumberlands (Ky.) [9] | 2-0-1 |
| ▼ | 2 | 1 | Keiser (Fla.) [8] | 3-0-1 |
| ● | 3 | 3 | Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) | 2-0-0 |
| ▲ | 4 | 5 | Marian (Ind.) [1] | 3-0-1 |
| ▲ | 5 | 11 | Indiana Wesleyan | 4-0-0 |
| ▲ | 6 | 10 | College of Idaho | 3-0-0 |
| ▲ | 7 | 8 | Truett McConnell (Ga.) | 1-1-1 |
| ▲ | 8 | 12 | Grace (Ind.) | 2-0-1 |
| ▼ | 9 | 6 | Missouri Valley | 0-1-1 |
| ▲ | T-10 | 15 | MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) | 3-0-0 |
| ▼ | T-10 | 9 | William Carey (Miss.) | 1-1-1 |
| ▲ | 12 | 13 | Life (Ga.) | 1-0-1 |
| ▲ | 13 | 16 | Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) | 1-0-0 |
| ▼ | T-14 | 4 | Oklahoma Wesleyan | 0-2-0 |
| ▲ | T-14 | 17 | Southeastern (Fla.) | 2-1-1 |
| ▼ | 16 | 7 | John Brown (Ark.) | 2-1-0 |
| ▼ | 17 | 14 | Taylor (Ind.) | 2-0-1 |
| ▲ | 18 | 22 | Georgia Gwinnett | 2-1-0 |
| ▲ | 19 | 21 | Spring Arbor (Mich.) | 3-0-0 |
| ▼ | 20 | 19 | Cumberland (Tenn.) | 2-1-0 |
| ▲ | 21 | 24 | Columbia (Mo.) | 3-0-1 |
| ▲ | 22 | NR | Benedictine (Kan.) | 3-0-0 |
| ▲ | 23 | RV | Northwestern Ohio | 2-1-1 |
| ▼ | 24 | 18 | Central Methodist (Mo.) | 1-2-0 |
| ▲ | 25 | RV | SCAD (Ga.) | 2-1-1 |
Dropped from Top 25: Science & Arts (Okla.), Westcliff (Calif.), The Master’s (Calif.)
Receiving Votes: Aquinas (Mich.); Briar Cliff (Iowa); Campbellsville (Ky.); Clarke (Iowa); Eastern Oregon; Graceland (Iowa); Hastings (Neb.); Mobile (Ala.); Science & Arts (Okla.); Southern Oregon; Tennessee Southern; Tennessee Wesleyan; The Master’s (Calif.); Westcliff (Calif.); Xavier (La.)
About the NAIA
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., is a governing body of small college athletics programs dedicated to character-driven, education-based athletics. Since 1937, the NAIA has balanced high-level competition with holistic student-athlete development through its commitment to The Right Way to Play®. Each year more than 87,000 NAIA student-athletes compete in college athletics, earn over $1.3 billion in financial aid, and pursue opportunities to participate in 30 national championships. naia.org | @NAIA | #TheRightWayToPlay
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