The SLU women’s soccer team went 14-4-2 last season and was picked to finish second in the Atlantic 10 Conference preseason poll this year. (Photo: Thomas Grove)
WASHINGTON, DC — Saint Louis University was picked to finish second in the 2026 Atlantic 10 Conference women’s soccer preseason poll, which was voted on by the league’s coaches on Monday. The voting totals were released to the media on Tuesday.
Saint Louis received three first-place votes and totaled 182 of a possible 196 points.
Dayton, which won the Atlantic 10 regular-season and tournament championships last year, garnered nine of the possible 14 first-place nods and tallied 188 points to be picked as the favorite to win the league title again this year.
Rhode Island (164 points, one first-place vote) was third, with Fordham (135), Loyola Chicago (133) and Duquesne (130) tightly bunched for places four through six. VCU (111, one first-place vote) and La Salle (92) rounded out the top eight.
George Mason (90) was ninth, followed by Davidson (71), Saint Joseph’s (64), Richmond (55), George Washington (41) and St. Bonaventure (14).
The Billikens will begin the new season on Wednesday, August 12, with a home game against Alabama. Opening kickoff at Hermann Stadium is set for 7 p.m. and the game will be streamed live on ESPN+.
2026 Atlantic 10 Women’s Soccer Preseason Poll
(First Place Votes in Parenthesis)
1. Dayton – 188
2. SLU – 182 (3)
3. Rhode Island – 164 (1)
4. Fordham – 135
5. Loyola Chicago – 133
6. Duquesne – 130
7. VCU – 111 (1)
8. La Salle – 92
9. George Mason – 90
10. Davidson – 71
11. Saint Joseph’s – 64
12. Richmond – 55
13. George Washington – 41
14. St. Bonaventure – 14
2026 SLU BILLIKENS WOMEN’S SOCCER SCHEDULE
| Date | Time | At | Opponent | Location | Broadcast |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 12, 2026 (Wednesday) | 7 pm | Home | Alabama | Hermann Stadium |  |
| August 16, 2026 (Sunday) | 1 pm | Home | Lindenwood | Hermann Stadium | |
| August 20, 2026 (Thursday) | 4:30 pm | Away | Missouri | Columbia, Mo. | |
| August 27, 2026 (Thursday) | 6 pm | Away | Illinois | Urbana-Champaign, Ill. | |
| August 30, 2026 (Sunday) | 12 pm | Away | Indiana | Bloomington, Ind. | |
| September 3, 2026 (Thursday) | 6 pm | Away | Illinois State | Normal, Ill. | |
| September 9, 2026 (Wednesday) | 7 pm | Home | Southeast Missouri State | Hermann Stadium | |
| September 12, 2026 (Saturday) | 3:30 pm | Home | #15 Kansas | Hermann Stadium | |
| September 19, 2026 (Saturday) | 1 pm | Home | VCU* | Hermann Stadium | |
| September 24, 2026 (Thursday) | 6 pm | Away | Dayton* | Dayton, Ohio | |
| September 27, 2026 (Sunday) | 1 pm | Home | George Mason* | Hermann Stadium | |
| October 3, 2026 (Saturday) | 6 pm | Away | Davidson* | Davidson, N.C. | |
| October 8, 2026 (Thursday) | 7 pm | Home | Saint Joseph’s* | Hermann Stadium | |
| October 11, 2026 (Sunday) | 1 pm | Away | Loyola Chicago* | Chicago, Ill. | |
| October 17, 2026 (Saturday) | 1 pm | Home | Richmond* | Hermann Stadium | |
| October 22, 2026 (Thursday) | 6 pm | Away | La Salle* | Philadelphia, Pa. | |
| October 25, 2026 (Sunday) | 12 pm | Away | Duquesne* | Pittsburgh, Pa. | |
| October 31, 2026 (Saturday) | 7 pm | Home | Rhode Island* | Hermann Stadium | |
| November 6-16, 2026 | TBD | TBD | TBD | Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament | |
* – denotes Atlantic 10 Conference game