Brentwood, Tenn. – The Lindenwood women's soccer team has been predicted to finish first in this season's OVC Preseason Poll, which was released by the conference on Wednesday morning. Caroline Ritter and Anna Johnson were tabbed as the Lions' Players to Watch. 

LU were selected as heavy preseason favorites, receiving nine out of 16 potential first-place votes and a total of 93 points. Eastern Illinois was picked to finish second with five first-place votes and 87 points, with Southern Indiana coming in at third with 77 points and the two remaining first-place votes.

UT Martin (55 points) and SIUE (52 points) rounded out the top five, followed by Southeast Missouri (39 points) in sixth place, Morehead State (31 points) in seventh, and Western Illinois in eighth (14 points).

Lindenwood will field an experienced squad this season, bringing back eight starters - including Players to Watch Caroline Ritter and Anna Johnson - from a 2025 team that won 10 games and finished runner-up at the OVC Tournament.

Ritter started all 20 games at goalkeeper for the Lions last season, posting a goals against average of 0.95 with 87 saves. Meanwhile, Johnson registered a team-high 12 points, pacing the squad in goals (5) while adding a pair of assists. She also led the team with four game-winning goals.

The Lions also return four 2025 All-OVC selections, including second-teamers Mackenzie Compton, Tasneem Dizdarevic, and Allison Schrumpf, along with All-Freshman performer Alysse Lamb.

Lindenwood has won 10 or more games in back-to-back seasons, winning the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament in 2024 before returning to the tournament final in 2025 after finishing the regular season in third place.

2026 OVC Women's Soccer Predicted Order of Finish
1. Lindenwood (9) - 93
2. Eastern Illinois (5) - 87
3. Southern Indiana (2) - 77
4. UT Martin - 55
5. SIUE - 52
6. Southeast Missouri - 39
7. Morehead State - 31
8. Western Illinois - 14
 
2026 Women's Soccer Returning All-OVC
D – Colleen Bauer, Jr. – Eastern Illinois
GK – Ella Kratochvil, Sr. – Eastern Illinois
F – Alex Tetteh, Sr. – Eastern Illinois
F – Mackenzie Compton, Jr. – Lindenwood
MF – Tasneem Dizdarevic, Jr. – Lindenwood
D – Allison Schrumpf, Sr. – Lindenwood
D – Emma Schut, Jr. – Southern Indiana
F – Peyton Cook, Sr. – UT Martin
GK – Mac Titus, R-Sr. – UT Martin
 
2026 OVC Women's Soccer Watch List
Abby Reinl, Sr., F – Eastern Illinois
Brooklyn Greene, Sr., MF - Eastern Illinois
Anna Johnson, Sr., F – Lindenwood
Caroline Ritter, Jr., GK – Lindenwood
Faith Pepper, Fr., D – Morehead State
Hannah Burke, Sr., D – Morehead State
Laia Amat, Jr., D – Southeast Missouri
Rachel Kretzer, So., MF – Southeast Missouri
Tori Bockstadter, So. F – SIUE
Sarah Bozeman, Sr. GK – SIUE
Ava Hess, Jr., MF - Southern Indiana
Payton Seymour, Gr., F - Southern Indiana
Unni Wolf, Jr., MF – UT Martin
Millie Perry, Jr., F – UT Martin
Hope Welsh, Jr., D – Western Illinois
Rita Moran, Jr., D – Western Illinois