BRIGHTON, Mich. – The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association has announced the results of its 2026 Women's Soccer Coaches' Poll. The Trine University women's soccer team was selected third in the poll.
 
The Thunder earned 48 points in the poll, while Calvin University claimed the top spot with 62 points and six first-place votes. Hope College was second with 59 points and three first-place votes. Kalamazoo College and Adrian College claimed the final two spots in the top five. Albion College, Saint Mary's College, Alma College, and The University of Olivet rounded out the poll.
 
Trine opens the season under first year Head Coach, Alyssa Krause against Hanover College. The Thunder then travel to Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa before retuning home for a matchup with Capital University. Trine travels to the Volunteer State on September 12-13 for the Maryville Fall Classic. Trine will play Maryville (Tenn.) and Sewanee before returning to Angola. Trine wraps up nonconference action with home contests against John Carroll University and North Central College (Ill.) and road games at Manchester University and Wittenberg University.
 
The Thunder begin MIAA play with home contests against Alma and Kalamazoo on September 30 and October 3. A three game road trip follows with trips to Adrian, Saint Mary's, and Calvin. On October 17 the Thunder host Albion and conclude the home portion of the schedule on October 24 against Hope. The final contest is a road trip to Olivet on October 28 before beginning MIAA Tournament play.
 
Trine returns top goal scorer and point scorer, Erin Scully to the midfield this season. The junior tallied seven goals and four assists a season ago and earned second team All-MIAA honors. Ava Leihgeber returns following a second team nod from the MIAA last season on top of claiming the league's Freshman of the Year award. Leihgeber was the anchor of the Thunder defense that pitched eight shutouts last season.
 
Trine returns four players to the midfield in Maggie McDowell, Samantha Sanderlin, and Julia Benham. Reganne Koskela also returns to the midfield and was a 2024 third team All-Region VIII selection.
Returning alongside Leihgeber is Jill Taylor. The sophomore was impressive in the middle of the defense for the Thunder as a freshman including a stellar effort against then-#1 and defending national champions, WashU, as Trine ended the Bears 12-game winning streak.
 
The Thunder open their season on September 1 against Hanover College on Weaver Field.