Soccer | 8/19/2026 2:28:00 PM
DENTON, Texas (August 19, 2026) - The Texas Woman's soccer team will enter the 2026 season ranked third in the Lone Star Conference preseason poll, the league announced.
The Pioneers received 581 points and three first-place votes in the poll, which was voted on by LSC head coaches, sports information directors and media members. TWU finished third among the conference's 15 teams, trailing only Dallas Baptist and Midwestern State.
"Our third place preseason ranking is a good starting point," head coach Babak Abouzar said. "It's a testament to our team's season last year and gives us a barometer to where others see us. With less than 10 days into preseason we still have a lot of work to do but we're in a good spot."
The preseason recognition comes after the Pioneers posted a program-best 16-4-3 record in 2025, including a 9-2-3 mark in conference play. The Pioneers advanced to their first LSC Championship match and finished as the tournament runner-up. TWU then earned their first NCAA Tournament victory with a 1-0 win over Colorado Mesa, advancing to the second round of the NCAA Division II South Central Regional for the first time in program history.
Alongside the preseason poll, the LSC announced the 2026 Preseason Players to Watch, with three Pioneers earning recognition.
Senior Giselle Gutierrez was named an Offensive Player to Watch after delivering one of the most productive attacking seasons in TWU history. Gutierrez started 22 of 23 matches in 2025 and led the Pioneers with a program-record 12 goals. She also added six assists for a program-best 30 points in a single season while recording 59 shots, including 32 on goal, in 1,640 minutes. Three of her goals were game-winners.
Gutierrez's historic season earned her First Team All-Lone Star Conference honors and a spot on the Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2 CCA) All-South Central Region First Team, marking TWU's first selection to the team since 2017.
Junior Lupita Bueno was selected as a Defensive Player to Watch after starting every match for the Pioneers last season. Bueno logged 1,953 minutes and recorded two assists and six shots while providing a consistent presence on the TWU backline. The 2025 season also marked the first two assists of her career.
Bueno opened the 2025 campaign with a strong performance, earning LSC Defensive Player of the Week honors for the first time in her career after helping the Pioneers begin the season 2-0.
Returning junior Faith Graves was named a Goalkeeper to Watch following a strong 2025 campaign in goal. Graves appeared in 15 matches and made 10 starts, playing 1,130 minutes while recording 49 saves and allowing just eight goals. She finished with a .64 goals-against average, an .860 save percentage, a 7-2-1 record and seven shutouts.
Graves earned LSC Goalkeeper of the Week honors for the first time in her career during the season.
"We're excited about the impact that these three players have had on our team'" Abouzar said. "Giselle is a forward that finds a way to get involved and score goals. Lupita is a very aggressive defender who continues to gain confidence. After starting midway through last season Faith continues to be a really good shot stopper and is demanding more from her backline and team."
The Pioneers set numerous program records during their historic 2025 campaign. Their 16 victories and seven road wins were both program bests, while the team also established single-season records with 45 goals, 46 assists and 136 total points. TWU recorded 14 shutouts, another program record, and won seven consecutive matches for the longest winning streak in program history. The Pioneers also produced three All-LSC honorees and three All-South Central Region selections during the season.
DBU claimed the top spot in the 2026 LSC Preseason Poll with 662 points and 38 first-place votes. Midwestern State followed in second with 583 points and two first-place votes, while TWU earned 581 points and three first-place votes. UT Dallas ranked fourth with 556 points and one first-place vote, followed by UT Tyler (459), St. Mary's (443), Angelo State (434), St. Edward's (338), Lubbock Christian (336) and West Texas A&M (266) to round out the top 10.
DBU's McKenna Vela was named the LSC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, while teammate Kenzi Tufts earned Preseason Defensive Player of the Year honors. UT Dallas' Melyna Martinez was selected as the Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year.
The Pioneers return a strong group of experienced players from last year's historic campaign while welcoming 11 newcomers to the 2026 roster. With a blend of proven contributors and new talent, TWU will look to build on its record-setting season and remain among the conference's top contenders.
TWU will look to build on that success in 2026, beginning the season with a pair of matches in Hawaii. The Pioneers open the campaign Thursday, Aug. 27, at 5 p.m. CT against Chaminade in Honolulu before facing Hawaii Pacific on Sunday, Aug. 30, at 7 p.m. CT.
The Full 2026 LSC Preseason Poll.
-PIONEERS-
