Wes Sharpe

General 8/17/2026 10:57:00 AM Gregory Ruff

Trevecca Women’s Soccer | Trojans Picked No. 10 in GSC Preseason Poll; Three Newcomers Earn Watch List Honors

NASHVILLE – The Trevecca Nazarene University women's soccer team enters the second season under head coach Matheus Mello, picked No. 10 in the 2026 Gulf South Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll, with a large returning group and 10 newcomers looking to move the Trojans up the conference standings.

Trevecca received 38 points in voting by the league's 12 head coaches.

2026 GSC WOMEN'S SOCCER PRESEASON COACHES' POLL

1	Lee	120 (10)
2	Univ of Montevallo	112 (2)
3	Univ. of West Alabama	94
4	Delta State Univ.	87
5	Mississippi Christian Univ.	86
6	Valdosta State Univ.	64
7	UAH	61
8	Spring Hill College	48
9	Union Univ.	43
10	Trevecca Nazarene Univ.	38
11	AUM	27
12	Christian Brothers Univ.	12

*As voted on by the GSC Head Coaches

**First-place votes in parentheses

The Trojans also placed three players on the 2026 GSC Newcomers Watch List. Sophomore forward Elsa Bengtsson, sophomore defender Emma Burnham and freshman defender Olivia Ulfvin were selected for the preseason recognition.

2026 GSC VOLLEYBALL NEWCOMERS WATCH LIST

Elsa Bengtsson	So.	F	Tyreso, Sweden
Emma Burnham	So.	D	Eastham, England
Olivia Ulfvin	Fr.	D	Stockholm, Sweden

Bengtsson brings experience from Sweden and Barry University; Burnham arrives after playing collegiately at St. Thomas Aquinas College and with Wrexham AFC Women; and Ulfvin joins the Trojans from Sweden.

Lee is the preseason favorite, collecting 120 points and 10 first-place votes. Montevallo is second with 112 points and the remaining two first-place votes.

West Alabama is third with 94 points, followed by Delta State with 87 and Mississippi Christian with 86 to complete the preseason top five.

Valdosta State is sixth with 64 points, followed by UAH with 61, Spring Hill with 48, Union with 43 and Trevecca with 38. AUM is No. 11 with 27 points, and Christian Brothers is No. 12 with 12.

BUILDING ON MELLO'S FIRST SEASON

Trevecca enters Mello's second season after finishing tied for 10th in the Gulf South Conference in 2025 and narrowly missing a trip to the GSC Championship for the second consecutive year.

The final conference standing did not tell the entire story of Mello's first season.

Trevecca won or tied seven of its nine home matches, earned the 2025 GSC Team Fair Play Award, and finished the season by collecting four of a possible six standings points during its final weekend.

The Trojans opened Mello's first season with two wins in their first three matches. Trevecca defeated Young Harris 1-0 for Mello's first victory as head coach before producing a 4-2 win over former Great Midwest Athletic Conference rival Kentucky Wesleyan.

Trevecca remained competitive through a difficult stretch in the middle of the schedule.

Nine matches into the season, the Trojans were 3-3-3 overall and 1-1-3 in the GSC. That stretch included scoreless draws against West Alabama and AUM, a 1-1 draw against Valdosta State and a 2-1 road victory at Spring Hill.

Following a loss at then-No. 7 West Florida, Trevecca entered the closing stretch of the season battling for a GSC postseason position. Four of its final six matches were decided by one goal or less.

One-goal road losses at Delta State and Mississippi College eventually ended the postseason pursuit, but the Trojans responded with a productive final weekend on the Hill.

Trevecca produced a season-high five goals in a 5-3 victory over Christian Brothers before closing the season with a 1-1 draw against Union.

Riley Kate Collins provided the equalizer against Union just over three minutes after the Bulldogs took the lead, completing a weekend that sent the Trojans into the offseason with momentum.

FARRELL LEADS EXPERIENCED ATTACK

Senior forward Anna Farrell returns after leading Trevecca in goals, points, shots, shots on goal and game-winning goals during the 2025 season.

Farrell scored three goals, added two assists, and produced eight points while placing 12 of her 24 shots on goal.

One of Farrell's biggest performances came in the 4-2 victory over Kentucky Wesleyan when she scored twice in a span of just over six minutes during the second half.

Farrell enters 2026 with six career goals, three assists, 15 points and two game-winning goals in 30 career matches.

Sophomore forward Noelle Garcia gives the Trojans another returning offensive threat after starting 12 of 16 matches during her first season.

Garcia scored two goals and led Trevecca with three assists. She scored Trevecca's first goal of the 2025 season against Tampa and produced the Trojans' goal at then-No. 7 West Florida. Garcia also recorded assists in each of Trevecca's final two matches.

Graduate midfielder Anny Mitra started all 16 matches in 2025 and played 1,117 minutes. Mitra scored two goals, added an assist, and produced five points. She enters the season with 31 career appearances and 23 starts.

Senior midfielder Riley Kate Collins closed last season playing some of her best soccer.

Collins scored in each of Trevecca's final two matches, helping the Trojans defeat Christian Brothers and draw Union. Her performance earned Tennessee Sports Writers Association Women's Soccer Player of the Week honors.

Senior forward Kaylee Maners appeared in all 16 matches with 11 starts, scoring a goal and adding an assist. Maners enters the season with 39 career appearances and 20 starts.

Junior forward Taylor Baines scored the game-winning goal in Trevecca's 2-1 road victory at Spring Hill. She appeared in 10 matches with two starts last season.

Senior Kate Nelson appeared in 10 matches and assisted on Trevecca's goal at Delta State, while sophomore Anna Allen gained experience in five matches during her first collegiate season.

EXPERIENCE THROUGH THE MIDFIELD AND BACK LINE

Trevecca returns considerable collegiate experience in the midfield and defensive groups.

Senior defender Hailey Wilkinson played a team-high 1,218 minutes in 2025 while appearing in all 16 matches and making 14 starts.

Wilkinson earned CSC Academic All-District recognition and enters her senior season with 45 matches played, 25 starts, and 2,687 career minutes.

Junior defender Dani Witsman appeared in 13 matches and made 10 starts last season, logging 657 minutes. She enters 2026 with 27 career appearances.

Senior defender Cristina Escudero appeared in 14 matches with nine starts during her first season with the Trojans, playing 758 minutes.

Junior defender Evvy Hainline played in 13 matches and made four starts, while senior Jenna Woods appeared in eight matches with four starts and assisted on the game-winning goal at Spring Hill.

Sophomore defender Tayley Linnenbringer appeared in seven matches during her first season.

Senior midfielder Kylie Bradshaw brings 45 matches of career experience into 2026. She appeared in 15 matches and played 611 minutes last season while earning CSC Academic All-District recognition.

Junior Tatum Mendel played in 11 matches last season, while sophomore Katie Fuller appeared in six.

The returning roster also includes Madie Andrews, Kate Purvis, Kamille Echols and Isabella Mawson.

NEW LOOK IN GOAL

Trevecca will have a new look in goal following the departure of Bailie Fiore, who handled the majority of the goalkeeping responsibilities in 2025.

Sophomore Mary Bauchou returns after making her collegiate debut last season. Bauchou appeared in two matches with one start and recorded four saves.

Junior transfer Penelope Charroin and freshman Isa Fuentes join her.

Charroin played at Ranger College, starting 31 of 40 matches during her freshman and sophomore seasons. She recorded 22 clean sheets and earned All-Conference and All-Tournament Team recognition.

Fuentes played at Sonora High School in California. She recorded 10 shutouts as a freshman and 11 during her senior season. Fuentes earned Rookie of the Year honors early in her career and was named team MVP as a senior. She also served as a team captain for Sporting California USA ECNL during the 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons.

THREE TROJANS ON GSC NEWCOMERS WATCH LIST

Bengtsson, Burnham and Ulfvin headline a 10-player newcomer class for Mello.

Bengtsson is a 5-foot-5 sophomore forward from Sweden who played in the Tyresö FF system.

She was the top scorer in the Tyresö FF youth academy from 2011-20 before debuting for the women's first team in 2020 and scoring four goals. Bengtsson was called into the Sweden WU17 youth national team in 2021 and played for the Stockholm regional team from 2018-21.

Burnham, a 5-foot-8 sophomore defender from Eastham, England, played collegiately at St. Thomas Aquinas College, appearing in 15 matches with 13 starts and starting all seven conference matches.

Burnham also played for Wrexham AFC. She was part of the Genero Adran U19 North 2024-25 winners, appeared in 12 matches with 1,006 minutes, scored three goals with an assist, and made her competitive first-team debut with Wrexham AFC Women in November 2024.

Ulfvin, a 5-foot-7 freshman defender from Sweden, played for Vaermö IF and recorded a goal and an assist during her first year playing in the Women's League.

MORE NEW FACES

Freshman forward Victoria Sarka arrives after an accomplished career at St. Johns Country Day School in Jacksonville, Fla.

Sarka recorded 98 goals and 42 assists during her high school career. Her résumé includes a State Championship, NSCAA All-State recognition, FACA All-Star Team selection, All-American nomination, All-First Coast honors, MVP recognition, and Female Athlete of the Year.

Freshman midfielder Olivia Perroni joins the Trojans from São Paulo, Brazil. Perroni played for De Luca & Leao, where she was named the 2024 MVP after recording 11 goals and five assists.

Freshman defender Addison Brandon comes to Nashville from Colorado Springs, Colo., and Ascend College Prep.

Brandon was an All-Conference First Team selection three times, earned All-State Honorable Mention three times and Academic All-State Honorable Mention twice while starting on varsity all four years.

Freshman Isabella Drotar-Chester joins the defensive group from Houston High School in Germantown, Tenn., and played club soccer for Lobos Rush ECNL RL.

Freshman midfielder Timia Brant played at Clarksville High School and Tennessee United SC ECNL RL.

Charroin and Fuentes complete a newcomer group that gives Trevecca additions across every level of the field.

A BALANCED 2026 SCHEDULE

Trevecca's 2026 regular-season schedule includes 16 matches, evenly divided between eight home matches and eight road contests.

The Trojans open the season on the Hill with consecutive home matches.

Lincoln Memorial visits Nashville for the season opener at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 27. Trevecca hosts Illinois Springfield at 1 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 30.

The Trojans then face their longest road stretch of the regular season, playing four consecutive matches away from home.

Trevecca visits Kentucky Wesleyan on Sept. 3 and Thomas More on Sept. 5 before opening its Gulf South Conference schedule with two significant road tests.

Preseason No. 2 Montevallo hosts the Trojans on Saturday, Sept. 12, followed by a Sept. 16 visit to preseason No. 7 UAH.

Two important home conference dates immediately follow the four-match road swing.

Preseason No. 5 Mississippi Christian comes to Nashville on Saturday, Sept. 19, before preseason No. 1 Lee visits the Hill on Wednesday, Sept. 23.

That creates an early four-game conference stretch against Montevallo, UAH, Mississippi Christian and Lee.

Three of those four opponents are ranked in the preseason top five, giving Trevecca an early opportunity to alter the expectations created by its No. 10 preseason position.

FIVE MATCHES AGAINST THE PRESEASON TOP FIVE

Trevecca faces each of the five teams picked at the top of the GSC poll during the regular season.

Four of those five matches are on the Hill.

The first comes at No. 2 Montevallo on Sept. 12.

No. 5 Mississippi Christian visits Trevecca on Sept. 19 before preseason No. 1 Lee comes to Nashville on Sept. 23.

Preseason No. 4 Delta State visits the Hill on Saturday, Oct. 3.

The final regular-season match brings preseason No. 3 West Alabama to Nashville on Friday, Oct. 23.

That gives Trevecca four home opportunities against preseason top-five teams after last year's Trojans won or tied seven of their nine matches on the Hill.

OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THE GSC SCHEDULE

Following the early stretch against three top-five opponents, Trevecca visits preseason No. 12 Christian Brothers on Sept. 26.

A nonconference visit to Tusculum follows on Sept. 30 before Delta State comes to Nashville Oct. 3.

The next portion of the schedule provides another important opportunity in the conference race.

Trevecca visits preseason No. 9 Union on Oct. 7, hosts No. 6 Valdosta State on Oct. 10 and No. 8 Spring Hill on Oct. 14, then visits No. 11 AUM on Oct. 17.

Three of those four teams were picked in the bottom half of the preseason poll, with Valdosta State sitting directly on the line at No. 6.

For a Trevecca team picked No. 10, points against that group could be critical to climbing the standings. The same stretch also offers a chance to move up the standings even more if the Trojans can score some early wins against the teams projected near the top.

A HOME FINISH AGAINST NO. 3 WEST ALABAMA

Trevecca plays four of its final six regular-season matches at home.

That stretch includes Delta State, Valdosta State, Spring Hill and West Alabama on the Hill, with road trips to Union and AUM.

The regular season concludes at home against preseason No. 3 West Alabama at 4:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23.

That match could carry particular significance after the teams played to a scoreless draw in 2025.

It also gives Trevecca a chance to finish the regular season on the Hill before the GSC Championship begins Oct. 31.

The Trojans' schedule lists additional GSC Championship dates for Nov. 5 and Nov. 7.

2026 GSC WOMEN'S SOCCER PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM

Carley White	Sr.	M	UAH
Millie Congerton	Sr.	F	Delta State Univ.
Whitney Carrigan	Jr.	D	Lee Univ.
Megan Davis	Jr.	M	Lee Univ.^
Isabel Dillehay	Sr.	F	Univ.of Montevallo
Ayla Ertekin	So.	F	Univ.of Montevallo^
Lainey Farabaugh	Sr.	M	Univ.of Montevallo^
Shelby Irwin	Gr.	D	Univ. of Montevallo
Madysen Legere	Gr.	D	Univ.of Montevallo^
Sofia Jimenez Garcia	Sr.	M	Spring Hill College
Rebekah Jackson	Sr.	F	Union Univ.
Yumari Hernandez	So.	GK	Univ.of West Alabama^
Santanna O'Grady	Sr.	D	Univ. of West Alabama