Kansas City, MO – Coming of a strong postseason run last season, the UC women's soccer team will open the season ranked second in the NAIA Coaches' Poll, released by the national office Wednesday.  It marks the seventh straight year that the Patriots open the season ranked in the top 10.
 
UC is coming off a 17-5-3 record in 2025 as they made a run to the NAIA National Championship game, before closing out the season as the NAIA National Runner-Up.  Cumberlands tallied ten wins over teams that were ranked or receiving votes in the NAIA Coaches' Poll and qualified for their seventh consecutive NAIA National Tournament and advanced to NAIA Final Site for the sixth straight year.
 
Cumberlands is returning 14 players from last year's squad to go along with 13 newcomers.  Highlighting the Patriots returners is NAIA Third Team All-Americans Nicole Araujo and Samantha Sokolove along with sophomore goalie Morgan White, who was named to the NAIA All-Tournament Team.
 
The defending NAIA champion Keiser is ranked first in the poll, while Embry-Riddle, Oklahoma Wesleyan, and Marian round out the top five.  MSC rivals Lindsey Wilson and Cumberland are ranked 16^th and 19th respectively.
 
The Patriots open their season tomorrow, Aug 20^th, when they host Milligan.  Kickoff is set for 11 a.m.
 
For the latest and most up-to-date information on University of the Cumberlands Athletics. Please visit www.cumberlandspatriots.com. Follow us on Twitter- @UC_Patriots and @UCPatsGameday, Instagram- @UCPatriots, TikTok- @ucpatriots, Youtube- Cumberlands Patriots, and Facebook by searching University of the Cumberlands Athletics.