The East Coast Conference announced the results of the 2026 Women's Soccer Preseason Poll this morning, with Molloy predicted to finish second by the league's coaches. The Lions totaled 52 points, including one first-place vote.

Mercy would take the poll's top spot, earning 62 points and six of eight first-place votes. Following Molloy were Daemen (45 points), Roberts Wesleyan (40 points), Queens (37 points, 1 first-place vote), and D'Youville (27 points), rounding out the coaches' projected playoff field. The poll was completed by St. Thomas Aquinas (14 points) and Staten Island (11 points).

Mercy's Hailey Metzger and Sarah Lill Hanks swept the Preseason Players of the Year, taking the Offensive and Defensive titles, respectfully. 

Molloy's women's soccer program has been a mainstay in the ECC postseason picture, appearing in seven of the last eight ECC Tournaments and capturing four conference titles during that span. Despite the overall success, the Lions enter the 2026 campaign with something to prove following a disappointing overtime semifinal loss to Roberts Wesleyan, who went on to claim the ECC Championship.

Molloy went unbeaten in conference play in 2025, posting a 4-0-3 record to earn the No. 2 seed. Overall, the Lions finished 11-3-4, recording eight shutous and outscoring their opponents by nearly 1.5 goals per game.

A veteran squad leads the Lions into 2026, with 19 players returning from last years roster, including 15 who saw game action. Five All-Conference standouts also return: Elyse Munoz (Goalkeeper of the Year, First Team), Isabella Muro (First Team Midfield), Jana Strait (First Team Midfield), Meghan Wetzel (First Team Defense), and Madison Keenan (Third Team Defense).

The season will begin with the annual kick-off tournament, featuring tough matches against Bentley (August 28) and Adelphi (August 30). The home slate begins on September 2 at 4:00 p.m. against Goldey-Beacom. In total, Molloy will spend seven regular season contests on the turf of the Rockville Centre Sports Complex.

East Coast Conference play begins at home against Daemen on September 19 at 3:00 p.m., while the regular season concludes in a rematch of the 2025 semifinal against Roberts Wesleyan on October 24 from Rochester. 

The 2026 ECC Women's Soccer Tournament will take place over three dates with the first round on October 28, the semifinal on October 31, and the championship on November 7 at the highest remaining seed.