LOCK HAVEN, Pa. --- The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference announced the results of their 2026 preseason women's soccer coaches' poll on Wednesday. Clarion was predicted to finish seventh in the PSAC West.
 
The Golden Eagles made their first-ever postseason appearance in 2025, reaching the PSAC Tournament for the first time in program history and parlaying that appearance into their first ever conference tournament win. Clarion stunned Edinboro on the road with a 1-0 victory in the first round of the tournament.
 
The team will benefit from returning seven players to start nine or more games a year ago, led by 2025 First Team All-PSAC West forward Ciara DiMauro. The first forward in school history to earn First Team honors, she set program records for goals (8) and total points (20) in a season. In fact, the Golden Eagles return all but two players that scored a goal for them last year, as well as starting goalkeeper Sage Sherk.
 
Clarion's season will start at home with back-to-back games in the last week of August, starting with a Thursday afternoon opener against Ursuline (8/27) followed by the conference opener against California (PA) (8/29).
 
2026 PSAC Women's Soccer Preseason Polls (# of first place votes in parentheses)
 
Eastern Division

1. West Chester (7)
2. Kutztown
3. Bloomsburg (1)
4. Shepherd
5. Millersville
6. East Stroudsburg
7. Shippensburg
8. Mansfield
 
Western Division
 
1. Slippery Rock (5)
2. Gannon (4)
3. IUP
4. Edinboro
5. Seton Hill
6. Lock Haven
7. Clarion
8. Pitt-Johnstown
9. California