Elon, Stony Brook Chosen as Women’s Soccer Divisional Favorites; Towson’s Perry Tabbed CAA Preseason Player of the Year
Dylan Smith
RICHMOND, Va. (Aug. 10, 2026) – Elon and Stony Brook were selected as the CAA women’s soccer Preseason Divisional favorites, while Towson graduate forward
Kale’a Perry earned Preseason Player of the Year honors, as announced on Monday. The league’s preseason poll and awards were voted on by the league’s 12 head coaches.
Reigning CAA Champion Elon topped the South Division with eight first-place votes and 62 points, while UNCW garnered four top votes and 56 points to sit right behind the Phoenix. Stony Brook (59) edged out Monmouth (58) for the top spot in the North Division by one point, despite both programs evenly splitting first-place votes with six apiece. Hofstra (44) and Towson (43) were also separated by one point in the middle of the North and saw Northeastern (24) and Drexel (18) close out the North. William & Mary (44 pts.), Charleston (41), Campbell (27) and Hampton (16) rounded out the South Division poll.
Towson’s Perry is fresh off a career year for the Tigers to garner the conference’s top preseason honor. The Waldorf, Md., product registered 22 points in 2025, the most among all of the league’s returners entering the upcoming campaign. She found the back of the net a career-high eight times (T-2
nd in CAA) last season, adding in six assists (T-4
th) to finish top five in both categories. Perry also found herself among the nation’s top players at getting shots on frame, averaging 2.2 attempts on net per game and sitting 10
th in the country.
The Phoenix will look to defend their league crown in 2026 after going 11-3-7 last season and becoming the first women’s soccer program to lift the CAA trophy in penalty kicks. Elon drew 1-1 in regulation and punched its ticket to the NCAA Tournament with a 6-5 finish in a shootout on the road at Stony Brook. The Phoenix will once again turn to the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player and all-CAA preseason goalkeeper
Katie Bisgrove, who posted two clean sheets and made 28 total saves in net across three conference tournament matches. The junior finished the year with nine shutouts and 5.3 stops per contest in 20 appearances. Elon will turn to its top two scorers from last season, defender
Grace Gelhaus and forward
Isa Murdock, who combined for 14 goals and nine assists. Midfielder
Ava Hellner also joined the trio on the CAA preseason team.
The Seawolves top the North Division in the preseason poll following a runner-up finish in the 2025 CAA Championship and will look to build off its 12-6-2 record from a season ago. Midfielder
Jamie Keens and defender
Abigail Roche were tabbed preseason honorable mentions. The tandem will look to be complemented by the program’s top returning scorer,
Hedvig Helling, who finished the 2025 campaign tied for the league lead with eight assists. Senior goalkeeper
Jona Hennings will join the trio for the upcoming slate to round out the Seawolves’ core.
The 2026 women’s soccer season begins on Wednesday, August 12, as five of the league’s 12 teams will see action on opening night.
2026 CAA WOMEN’S SOCCER PRESEASON POLLS AND AWARDS
| Team (1st Place Votes) |
Points |
| North |
|
| Stony Brook (6) |
59 |
| Monmouth (6) |
58 |
| Hofstra |
44 |
| Towson |
43 |
| Northeastern |
24 |
| Drexel |
18 |
| |
|
| South |
|
| Elon (8) |
62 |
| UNCW (4) |
56 |
| William & Mary |
44 |
| Charleston |
41 |
| Campbell |
27 |
| Hampton |
16 |
CAA Preseason Player of the Year
Kale’a Perry, Towson
Preseason All-CAA Team
| Player |
Team |
Pos. |
Class |
Hometown |
| Hailey Longwell |
UNCW |
F |
R-Jr. |
Moon Township, Pa. |
| Isa Murdock |
Elon |
F |
R-Sr. |
Colorado Springs, Colo. |
| Kale’a Perry |
Towson |
F |
Grad. |
Waldorf, Md. |
| Mia Abbey |
William & Mary |
M |
So. |
Elmer, N.J. |
| Ava Hellner |
Elon |
M |
R-Sr. |
Waxhaw, N.C. |
| Chloe Messer |
Monmouth |
M |
Sr. |
Jackson, N.J. |
| Ava Chuderewicz |
UNCW |
D |
Jr. |
Virginia Beach, Va. |
| Grace Gelhaus |
Elon |
D |
Sr. |
Woodstock, Conn. |
| Grace Notarfrancesco |
Monmouth |
D |
Jr. |
Mechanicsburg, Pa. |
| Katie Bisgrove |
Elon |
GK |
Jr. |
Ridgewood, N.J. |
| Eliza Teplow |
Northeastern |
GK |
Sr. |
Wellesley, Mass. |
Honorable Mentions: Bella Antonio, F, Charleston; Emily De Almeida, M, Monmouth; Rachel Fry, D, UNCW; Maggie Heffernan, M, Charleston; Nylah Jennings, M, Hampton; Jamie Keens, M, Stony Brook; Ashley Lavrich, F, Monmouth; Sasha McTiffin, D, Hofstra; Abigail Roche, D, Stony Brook; Emely Rubio, M, Towson; Sophie Thibeault, F, Towson; Ava Vaughan, M, UNCW; Molly Widderich, D, William & Mary; Lindsay Wilson, M, William & Mary