WATERVILLE, Maine - The North Atlantic Conference (NAC) office announced the results of the Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll on Wednesday afternoon, with the University of Maine at Farmington voted to finish tied for fourth in the upcoming 2026 season. The reigning NAC Champions, Lesley University, received five of the eight first-place votes to top the poll.

The Beavers placed fifth in the NAC a season ago, earning a road playoff berth against VTSU Johnson in the opening round. The Beavers toppled the Badgers in a penalty-kick shootout to advance to the semifinals against Lesley. The Lynx proved to be too much, topping the Beavers, 4-0, on their way to advancing and eventually winning the 2025 NAC Championship.

Farmington finished 8-8-3 overall last season, including a 4-3-2 record in NAC play during the regular season. The Beavers graduated a strong group of seniors that included 2025 NAC Player of the Year Natalie Tracy, four-time Second Team All-Conference honoree Grace Dwyer, four-year starting goalkeeper Paige Gonya (Sabattus, Maine), as well as key starting defenders Hannah Wilbur and Kiley Meader. The departure of the 2025 senior class leaves numerous open starting spots for a young Beaver team that will look to continue building on the success from a season ago.

Offensively, the Beavers will need to replace the goal-scoring production of Tracy and Dwyer, who combined to score 23 of the team's 53 goals last season. Rising sophomore midfielder and Second Team All-Conference honoree Kyri Meak (Winslow, Maine) is Farmington's top returning goal-scorer from last season. Meak scored seven goals and added three assists from her center midfield position. Senior Rita Benoit (Hallowell, Maine) and Emma Dunn (Farmington, Maine) also return this season after each scored five goals a year ago. Benoit also led the team with six assists after making the transition to the wing in 2025. Junior captain Mackenzie Rushlow (Corinth, Maine) also returns to the lineup this year for the Beavers and aims to build on the success she saw a year ago, when she scored three goals and added four assists.

With the departure of Gonya, Roo Sawyer (Londonderry, N.H.) will take over in goal as the Beavers' starter. Sawyer appeared in five games last season, combining with Gonya on three shutouts. Additionally, Sawyer took over in goal for the penalty-kick shootout of the NAC quarterfinal contest and allowed just one goal to help the Beavers advance to the second round.

Along the backline, the Beavers will be young with the departure of Wilbur and Meader. Sophomore Allison Casavant (Farmington, Maine), who appeared in 18 games last season and made five starts, will likely see significant minutes defensively. Alongside Casavant will likely be a mix of sophomores making positional changes, as well as first-years fighting for playing time.

Season at a Glance

Farmington opens its season at home on Tuesday, September 1, against four-time reigning Little East Conference Champions, the University of Southern Maine. Overall, the Beavers play a tough non-conference schedule that includes matchups with Albion, Colby-Sawyer, New England College, the University of New England, UMaine-Fort Kent, Fisher, Salem State, Bates, and a non-conference matchup with NAC foe Maine Maritime.

With the departure of SUNY Delhi and SUNY Cobleskill from the NAC, conference play is down to just seven games this season. The Beavers will open their conference schedule on the road against the Mariners on Saturday, September 19.

The Beavers will play 17 games this season, 10 of which will be played at home at Leib Field. Farmington's home contests include Southern Maine, Albion, Colby-Sawyer, Lesley, UMaine-Fort Kent, Fisher, Husson, VTSU Johnson, Maine Maritime, and UMaine-Presque Isle.

Poll Results

1. Lesley University - 61 (5)
2. Husson University - 54 (2)
3. Maine Maritime - 52 (1)