KANSAS CITY, Mo. – After advancing to the South Central Regional Final for the second time in the last three seasons last fall, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs women's soccer team enters the 2026 campaign ranked No. 10 in the United Soccer Coaches National Preseason Poll, the organization announced Tuesday afternoon.
 
Florida Tech University secured the No. 1 ranking in the preseason poll after posting a 15-3-6 overall record and capturing the national title last fall. Three programs from the South Central Region were ranked in the preseason top 25 with Dallas Baptist University checking in at No. 5, UCCS at No. 10, and Colorado School of Mines at No. 13.
 
The Mountain Lions' preseason ranking follows another successful season in which the program finished 14-3-6 overall and advanced to the RMAC Tournament semifinals before earning an at-large bid to the NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Tournament. As the No. 3 seed in the South Central Regional, UCCS defeated No. 6 seed Midwestern State University and No. 2 seed Colorado School of Mines to advance to the South Central Regional Final for the second time in the last three seasons before falling in overtime to No. 1 seed and then-No. 1 nationally ranked Dallas Baptist University.
 
Head coach J.B. Belzer returns 18 student-athletes from last season's squad while welcoming nine newcomers to the program, including four transfers and five incoming freshmen. The veteran roster is highlighted by a strong core of returning players, including Second Team All-America forward Abby Stassi, First Team All-South Central Region midfielder Taylyn Levi, and Second Team All-South Central Region defenders Malia Groshong and Elise Broberg.
 
UCCS opens the 2026 season at home on Thursday, Aug. 27 with a 7:30 p.m. matchup inside Mountain Lion Stadium against a Point Loma Nazarene University squad that received votes in the national preseason poll. Following a six-game non-conference slate, the Mountain Lions will open RMAC play on Thursday, Sept. 17, with a 7 p.m. match at Fort Lewis College.
 
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