Creighton University Athletics
Women’s Soccer Picked Fourth in BIG EAST Preseason Poll
8/3/2026 12:00:00 PM | Women's Soccer
OMAHA, Neb. – Coming off its second consecutive BIG EAST Tournament appearance, the Creighton women's soccer team has been picked fourth in the BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll, the league announced on Monday, Aug. 3.
Creighton's preseason prognosis of fourth place is its highest preseason pick since joining the BIG EAST prior to the 2013 season. In the previous 13 seasons in the league, Creighton has improved its preseason ranking six times, been ranked correctly five times, and dropped from preseason expectations just twice.
The Bluejays earned 73 points in the preseason coaches' poll to place fourth, five points behind third place finisher Xavier. The Jays' went 7-8-4 and finished fourth in the BIG EAST last season, before bowing out of the postseason in the semifinals of the BIG EAST Tournament. The squad returns six regular starters and has 17 underclassmen to continue to build upon the programs most successful two year stretch in over a decade.
Defending BIG EAST regular-season champion Georgetown claimed the top spot with 98 points, including eighth first-place votes. UConn tallied two first-place votes and a total of 89 points to place second, while Xavier captured the remaining first-place vote and 78 points to finish third. Creighton followed closely behind with 73 points and a fourth-place finish, while Villanova (66) and Providence (60) closed out the top six. Marquette (40), Butler (39), St. John's (28), DePaul (15) and Seaton Hall (15) rounded out the bottom half of the poll in 2026.
The top four teams in the final league standings will qualify for the 2026 BIG EAST Championship Presented by JEEP. The semifinals on Nov. 11 (1 vs. 4 and 2 vs. 3) and title match on Nov. 14 will be played at the Maryland Soccer Complex in Boyds, Md.
Creighton opens regular season play on Wednesday, August 12 at 7 p.m. in the Rocky Mountains against Colorado College. The Bluejays open the home portion of their schedule on Aug. 27 at 4:30 p.m. against Kansas City. CU is scheduled to host nine regular-season home matches, including five during BIG EAST play.
BIG EAST Preseason Women's Soccer Coaches' Poll
(first-place votes)
1. Georgetown, 98 (8)
2. UConn, 89 (2)
3. Xavier, 78 (1)
4. Creighton, 73
5. Villanova, 66
6. Providence, 60
7. Marquette, 40
8. Butler, 39
9. St. John's, 28
10. DePaul, 19
11. Seton Hall, 15
Preseason BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year
Peyton Kohls, Xavier, Sr., F
Preseason BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year
Lizzie Heller, Georgetown, Jr., M
Preseason BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year
Kaya Hanson, Georgetown, Sr., D
Preseason BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year
Hannah Dickinson, Villanova, Sr., GK
Preseason All-BIG EAST Team *
Jocelyn Leigh, Marquette, Jr., F
Courtnee Pickles, Providence, So., F
Se-Hanna Mars, UConn, R-So., F
Avrie Nelsen, Villanova, So., F
Peyton Kohls, Xavier, Sr., F ^
Chloe Brecht, Butler, Jr., M
Lizzie Heller, Georgetown, Jr., M
Thaea Mouratidis, Providence, Gr., M
Anaya Johnson, UConn, Sr., M ^
Gabby Koluch, Villanova, Sr., M
Kaya Hanson, Georgetown, Sr., D
Brooklynn Miltenberger, Xavier, Sr., D
Hannah Dickinson, Villanova, Sr., GK
^ unanimous selection
* Due to a tie in voting, there are 13 members on the preseason team.
Creighton in the Preseason Conference Poll
Year Preseason Pick Finish Move
2013 9th 9th --
2014 8th 7th up 1
2015 8th 8th --
2016 7th 7th --
2017 8th 8th --
2018 7th 7th --
2019 9th 6th up 3
2020-21 5th in Midwest Division 3rd in Midwest Division up 2
2021 5th 9th down 4
2022 7th T-4th up 3
2023 5th 10th down 5
2024 7th 4th up 3
2025 5th 4th up 1
2026 4th ??? ???
Creighton's preseason prognosis of fourth place is its highest preseason pick since joining the BIG EAST prior to the 2013 season. In the previous 13 seasons in the league, Creighton has improved its preseason ranking six times, been ranked correctly five times, and dropped from preseason expectations just twice.
The Bluejays earned 73 points in the preseason coaches' poll to place fourth, five points behind third place finisher Xavier. The Jays' went 7-8-4 and finished fourth in the BIG EAST last season, before bowing out of the postseason in the semifinals of the BIG EAST Tournament. The squad returns six regular starters and has 17 underclassmen to continue to build upon the programs most successful two year stretch in over a decade.
Defending BIG EAST regular-season champion Georgetown claimed the top spot with 98 points, including eighth first-place votes. UConn tallied two first-place votes and a total of 89 points to place second, while Xavier captured the remaining first-place vote and 78 points to finish third. Creighton followed closely behind with 73 points and a fourth-place finish, while Villanova (66) and Providence (60) closed out the top six. Marquette (40), Butler (39), St. John's (28), DePaul (15) and Seaton Hall (15) rounded out the bottom half of the poll in 2026.
The top four teams in the final league standings will qualify for the 2026 BIG EAST Championship Presented by JEEP. The semifinals on Nov. 11 (1 vs. 4 and 2 vs. 3) and title match on Nov. 14 will be played at the Maryland Soccer Complex in Boyds, Md.
Creighton opens regular season play on Wednesday, August 12 at 7 p.m. in the Rocky Mountains against Colorado College. The Bluejays open the home portion of their schedule on Aug. 27 at 4:30 p.m. against Kansas City. CU is scheduled to host nine regular-season home matches, including five during BIG EAST play.
BIG EAST Preseason Women's Soccer Coaches' Poll
(first-place votes)
1. Georgetown, 98 (8)
2. UConn, 89 (2)
3. Xavier, 78 (1)
4. Creighton, 73
5. Villanova, 66
6. Providence, 60
7. Marquette, 40
8. Butler, 39
9. St. John's, 28
10. DePaul, 19
11. Seton Hall, 15
Preseason BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year
Peyton Kohls, Xavier, Sr., F
Preseason BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year
Lizzie Heller, Georgetown, Jr., M
Preseason BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year
Kaya Hanson, Georgetown, Sr., D
Preseason BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year
Hannah Dickinson, Villanova, Sr., GK
Preseason All-BIG EAST Team *
Jocelyn Leigh, Marquette, Jr., F
Courtnee Pickles, Providence, So., F
Se-Hanna Mars, UConn, R-So., F
Avrie Nelsen, Villanova, So., F
Peyton Kohls, Xavier, Sr., F ^
Chloe Brecht, Butler, Jr., M
Lizzie Heller, Georgetown, Jr., M
Thaea Mouratidis, Providence, Gr., M
Anaya Johnson, UConn, Sr., M ^
Gabby Koluch, Villanova, Sr., M
Kaya Hanson, Georgetown, Sr., D
Brooklynn Miltenberger, Xavier, Sr., D
Hannah Dickinson, Villanova, Sr., GK
^ unanimous selection
* Due to a tie in voting, there are 13 members on the preseason team.
Creighton in the Preseason Conference Poll
Year Preseason Pick Finish Move
2013 9th 9th --
2014 8th 7th up 1
2015 8th 8th --
2016 7th 7th --
2017 8th 8th --
2018 7th 7th --
2019 9th 6th up 3
2020-21 5th in Midwest Division 3rd in Midwest Division up 2
2021 5th 9th down 4
2022 7th T-4th up 3
2023 5th 10th down 5
2024 7th 4th up 3
2025 5th 4th up 1
2026 4th ??? ???
Friday, November 07
Saturday, November 01
Saturday, November 01
Wednesday, October 29
