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South Atlantic Conference

Wingate Leads 2025 SAC Women’s Soccer Preseason Poll; Catawba and Lenoir-Rhyne Close Behind

Wingate Leads 2025 SAC Women’s Soccer Preseason Poll; Catawba and Lenoir-Rhyne Close Behind
August 25, 2025

ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – A tightly contested vote has placed Wingate at the top of the 2025 South Atlantic Conference (SAC) Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll, as announced Tuesday by the league office. The Bulldogs received five first-place votes and 94 total points to narrowly edge out Catawba and Lenoir-Rhyne.

Catawba earned four first-place votes and totaled 91 points to land second, while Lenoir-Rhyne, the 2024 SAC Tournament Champions, placed third with 88 points and two first-place nods.

Lincoln Memorial (66 points) and Anderson (64) rounded out the top five, with Carson-Newman close behind in sixth with 56 points. Coker, Emory & Henry, Newberry, Tusculum, and Mars Hill completed the bottom half of the 11-team poll.

The league also revealed its 2025 Preseason All-Conference Team, headlined by standout forwards Bree Ehmer (Catawba), Audur Helga Halldorsdottir (Wingate), and Addison Rishling (Tusculum). Catawba placed three players on the First Team, including midfielders Maria Rayburn and Kylie Morin.

Defensive standouts include Noor Njeim (Coker), Viktoria Filsner and Donna van der Zalm (both from Lincoln Memorial), and Rosa Gonzalez (Lenoir-Rhyne), while Riley Miller (Lenoir-Rhyne) was named the preseason First Team goalkeeper.

Additionally, the SAC spotlighted a list of Players to Watch, featuring key returners and promising newcomers expected to make an impact this season.

2025 SAC Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll

Rank School (First-Place Votes) Points
1. Wingate (5) 94
2. Catawba (4) 91
3. Lenoir-Rhyne (2) 88
4. Lincoln Memorial 66
5. Anderson 64
6. Carson-Newman 56
7. Coker 47
8. Emory & Henry 37
9. Newberry 27
10. Tusculum 25
11. Mars Hill 10

 

2025 Preseason All-Conference – First Team

Forwards

  • Bree Ehmer, Catawba

  • Audur Helga Halldorsdottir, Wingate

  • Addison Rishling, Tusculum

  • Ansley Douty, Anderson

Midfielders

  • Maria Rayburn, Catawba

  • Katie Ensalaco, Wingate

  • Ava Hartman, Lenoir-Rhyne

  • Kylie Morin, Catawba

Defenders

  • Noor Njeim, Coker

  • Viktoria Filsner, Lincoln Memorial

  • Donna van der Zalm, Lincoln Memorial

  • Rosa Gonzalez, Lenoir-Rhyne

Goalkeeper

  • Riley Miller, Lenoir-Rhyne

Players to Watch by Program

Anderson

  • Catherine Nardella, Sr., F

  • Meggie Powell, Sr., D

Carson-Newman

  • Felicia Frick, Sr., MF

  • Malia Kim, Sr., MF

  • Iris Palsdottir, Jr., D

Coker

  • Rhyan Parkin, Jr., GK

  • Noor Njeim, Sr., D

Emory & Henry

  • Charlotte Stavis, Jr., F/M

  • Olivia DaSilva, Sr., D

  • Sadie Moseley, Fr., F

Lincoln Memorial

  • Emma Cooke, Jr., GK

Mars Hill

  • Samantha Swinson, Jr., F

  • Mia Calderon, So., M/F

  • Saga Karlsson Rowa, So., MF

Newberry

  • Emily Castaneda, Sr., D

  • Bella Gonzalez, So., MF

  • Mikaela Warburton, So., MF

  • Ella McDevitt, Sr., MF

Tusculum

  • Wilma Axelsson, Gr., MF

  • Marja Enste, Sr., D

Wingate

  • Gabby Agelis, Sr., D