The Wayne State College women's soccer team is picked 11^th in the 2026 NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll released Monday morning by the league office in Burnsville, Minnesota.  Senior defender Tyler Donaldson and junior forward Morgan Mancuso were listed as Wildcats to Watch in the NSIC this season.
            The Wildcats received 95 points in voting conducted by league coaches after finishing last season with records of 6-8-4 overall and 5-8-2 in the NSIC (11^th place). 
            Minnesota State, the defending NSIC regular season and tournament champion, was voted as the team to beat this season collecting 223 points and 13 first-place votes followed by Concordia-St. Paul in second at 204 points and the remaining three first-place votes.  Bemidji State (193), Augustana (174) and St. Cloud State (164) filled out the top five teams in the poll.
            The University of Mary was sixth at 156 points with Northern State (142), Minot State (121), Winona State (104) and Minnesota Duluth (98) closing out the top 10 teams.
            Mancuso, a 5-7 junior forward from Omaha (Roncalli Catholic HS), is Wayne State's Offensive Player to Watch in the NSIC this season.  Last season she led the team in scoring with 13 points (six goals/one assist) and was named All-NSIC Second Team, posting team-highs of 39 shots and 16 shots on goal.
            Donaldson, a 5-6 senior defender from Johnston, Iowa (Johnston HS), is the Wildcat Defensive Player to Watch this season.  Last year she appeared in all 18 games with 16 starts and had two assists while ranking fifth on the team in minutes played with 1,178.  Donaldson helped a Wildcat defense record six shutouts last season. 
Wayne State opens the 2026 season on Friday, August 28^th hosting Morningside in a non-conference contest starting at 4 p.m. at the WSC Soccer Pitch.
 
2026 NSIC Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll
1.         Minnesota State (13)                  223 pts.
2.         Concordia-St. Paul (3)               204 pts.
3.         Bemidji State                             193 pts.
4.         Augustana                                174 pts.
5.         St. Cloud State                          164 pts.
6.         University of Mary                     156 pts.
7.         Northern State                          142 pts.
8.         Minot State                               121 pts.
9.         Winona State                            104 pts.
10.        Minnesota Duluth                      98 pts.
11.        Wayne State                             95 pts.
12.        Sioux Falls                                89 pts.
13.        Southwest Minnesota State      46 pts.
14.        Jamestown                               42 pts.
15.        Minnesota Crookston                35 pts.
16.        MSU Moorhead                         34 pts.
                        first place votes in ( )