LANCASTER, PA – Johns Hopkins grabbed eight first-place votes and totaled 97 points to earn the top spot in the 2026 Centennial Conference Preseason Women's Soccer Poll of the league's head coaches it was announced today.  The Blue Jays grab the top spot in the poll for the ninth consecutive year dating back to 2017 (no poll in 2020; season canceled due to COVID pandemic).  Coaches are not permitted to vote for their own team when casting their ballot.
 
Swarthmore earned the remaining three first-place votes and 93 points to grab the second spot in the poll with Dickinson (80 points), Franklin & Marshall (75) and Gettysburg (60) rounding out the top five.
 
Johns Hopkins won its league-record 16^th Centennial Conference Tournament title with a 2-1 win at top-seeded Swarthmore in the 2025 championship game.  The Blue Jays advanced to the NCAA's Sweet 16 a year ago and finished the season with a 17-5-1 record.  The run to the round of 16 was the 13^th in program history with all 13 coming since 2008, while the 17 wins the Blue Jays accumulated last season marked the ninth consecutive year that Johns Hopkins has won 16 or more games.
 
The Blue Jays, who are ranked 15th nationally in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll, will open the 2026 season on Tuesday, September 1 when they welcome Catholic to Homewood Field.
 
2026 Centennial Conference Preseason Women's Soccer Poll
1. Johns Hopkins (8 First-Place Votes) – 97 points
2. Swarthmore (3) – 39
3. Dickinson – 80
4. Franklin & Marshall – 75
5 – Gettysburg – 60
6 – Washington College – 47
7 – Haverford – 39
8T – McDaniel – 38
8T – Ursinus – 38
10 – Muhlenberg – 28
11 – Bryn Mawr - 10