Liberty Monopolizes 2026 CUSA Preseason Poll with First Place, Players of the Year Predictions
8/6/2026 12:42:00 PM | Women's Soccer
LYNCHBURG, Va. – The Liberty women's soccer team dominated the 2026 Conference USA Preseason Coaches Poll as the Lady Flames were picked to finish in first with nine first-place votes. In addition, Liberty picked up both the Offensive and Defensive Preseason Players of the Year and had five selected to the Preseason All-Conference Team and
Halle Engle was selected as the CUSA Preseason Offensive Player of the Year with Lauren Littleton receiving the honor of CUSA Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. Goalkeeper Peyton Huber was the lone goalkeeper named to the Preseason All-Conference team with defender Sallie Garner and midfielder Avenley Monteith rounding out the Lady Flame selections.
Liberty sweeps the preseason superlative awards for the third straight season. Lauren Littleton receives her honor for the second consecutive year. Garner gains preseason all-conference recognition for the third straight year while Engle and Huber receive their second consecutive selection.
The Lady Flames aim for back-to-back CUSA titles and are heavy favorites in the league to do so with nine first-place votes (81 points). Liberty has been picked to finish first in all four CUSA preseason polls. The Lady Flames have won the CUSA Championship in two out of the last three years and are looking for back-to-back titles for the third time in program history and the first time since 2016.
Since joining the conference in 2023, Liberty has been recognized with the CUSA Defensive Player and a goalkeeper on the all-conference team in each CUSA Preseason poll. The team has also received three out of the four CUSA Preseason Offensive Player of the Year selections (Ivy Garner- 2024, 25).
Engle shined last season behind eventual 2025 CUSA Player of the Year, Ivy Garner. Engle netted six goals and a team-leading nine assists. She will be cast as the Lady Flames' top scoring threat in an attack that led CUSA in scoring last season with 1.89 goals per game.
Littleton continues to dominate CUSA as the reigning CUSA Defensive Player of the Year and CUSA Championship Defensive MVP. She also marks Liberty's fourth straight selection of the CUSA Preseason Defensive Player of the Year (Garner-2024, Bridie Herman-2023). The senior heads a Liberty defense that restricted its opponents to a single goal over three CUSA Championship contests last season. Littleton also added two goals and an assist last year.
Huber becomes the lone goalkeeper on the CUSA Preseason All-Conference team for the second consecutive season. She continues Liberty's streak on the CUSA Preseason All-Conference team as the fourth consecutive goalkeeper selected to the team (Ainsley Leja, 2023, 24). The goalkeeper was named the 2025 CUSA Goalkeeper of the Year with a 0.56 goals-against average and a .759 save percentage.
Garner gains her third selection to the all-conference team despite missing the entirety of the 2025 season due to an injury. The defender was named to the 2024 CUSA All-Conference team the same year she was named the CUSA Defensive Player of the Year. She also appeared on the 2023 CUSA All-Freshman Team.
Monteith represents the lone Liberty midfielder on the preseason all-conference team. The 2025 CUSA All-Conference second team selection projects to lead a Liberty midfield that plays a key role in both the defensive effort and offensive attack. The senior set career highs last season with three goals, two assists and 18 points last season.
Liberty kicks off the 2026 season at home on Aug. 13, taking on East Carolina. The contest from Osborne Stadium begins at 6 p.m. and will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
2026 Conference USA Preseason Coaches Poll
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Halle Engle, Liberty
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Lauren Littleton, Liberty
Preseason All-Conference Team
GK: Peyton Huber, Liberty
D: Sallie Garner, Liberty
D: Lauren Littleton, Liberty
D: Abby Wiedermann, WKU
MF: Gabby Riley, Delaware
MF: Avenley Monteith, Liberty
MF: Ellie Morgan, Sam Houston
MF: Georgia Liapis, WKU
F: Adiat Olaogun-Dickson, Delaware
F: Halle Engle, Liberty
F: Makenna Egan, WKU
Preseason Poll (first-place votes)
Liberty (9) 81 points
Missouri State 62 points
Delaware (1) 61 points
WKU 55 points
FIU 52 points
MTSU 46 points
Sam Houston 39 points
NM State 29 points
Kennesaw State 13 points
Jax State 12 points
Halle Engle was selected as the CUSA Preseason Offensive Player of the Year with Lauren Littleton receiving the honor of CUSA Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. Goalkeeper Peyton Huber was the lone goalkeeper named to the Preseason All-Conference team with defender Sallie Garner and midfielder Avenley Monteith rounding out the Lady Flame selections.
Liberty sweeps the preseason superlative awards for the third straight season. Lauren Littleton receives her honor for the second consecutive year. Garner gains preseason all-conference recognition for the third straight year while Engle and Huber receive their second consecutive selection.
The Lady Flames aim for back-to-back CUSA titles and are heavy favorites in the league to do so with nine first-place votes (81 points). Liberty has been picked to finish first in all four CUSA preseason polls. The Lady Flames have won the CUSA Championship in two out of the last three years and are looking for back-to-back titles for the third time in program history and the first time since 2016.
Since joining the conference in 2023, Liberty has been recognized with the CUSA Defensive Player and a goalkeeper on the all-conference team in each CUSA Preseason poll. The team has also received three out of the four CUSA Preseason Offensive Player of the Year selections (Ivy Garner- 2024, 25).
Engle shined last season behind eventual 2025 CUSA Player of the Year, Ivy Garner. Engle netted six goals and a team-leading nine assists. She will be cast as the Lady Flames' top scoring threat in an attack that led CUSA in scoring last season with 1.89 goals per game.
Littleton continues to dominate CUSA as the reigning CUSA Defensive Player of the Year and CUSA Championship Defensive MVP. She also marks Liberty's fourth straight selection of the CUSA Preseason Defensive Player of the Year (Garner-2024, Bridie Herman-2023). The senior heads a Liberty defense that restricted its opponents to a single goal over three CUSA Championship contests last season. Littleton also added two goals and an assist last year.
Huber becomes the lone goalkeeper on the CUSA Preseason All-Conference team for the second consecutive season. She continues Liberty's streak on the CUSA Preseason All-Conference team as the fourth consecutive goalkeeper selected to the team (Ainsley Leja, 2023, 24). The goalkeeper was named the 2025 CUSA Goalkeeper of the Year with a 0.56 goals-against average and a .759 save percentage.
Garner gains her third selection to the all-conference team despite missing the entirety of the 2025 season due to an injury. The defender was named to the 2024 CUSA All-Conference team the same year she was named the CUSA Defensive Player of the Year. She also appeared on the 2023 CUSA All-Freshman Team.
Monteith represents the lone Liberty midfielder on the preseason all-conference team. The 2025 CUSA All-Conference second team selection projects to lead a Liberty midfield that plays a key role in both the defensive effort and offensive attack. The senior set career highs last season with three goals, two assists and 18 points last season.
Liberty kicks off the 2026 season at home on Aug. 13, taking on East Carolina. The contest from Osborne Stadium begins at 6 p.m. and will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
2026 Conference USA Preseason Coaches Poll
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Halle Engle, Liberty
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Lauren Littleton, Liberty
Preseason All-Conference Team
GK: Peyton Huber, Liberty
D: Sallie Garner, Liberty
D: Lauren Littleton, Liberty
D: Abby Wiedermann, WKU
MF: Gabby Riley, Delaware
MF: Avenley Monteith, Liberty
MF: Ellie Morgan, Sam Houston
MF: Georgia Liapis, WKU
F: Adiat Olaogun-Dickson, Delaware
F: Halle Engle, Liberty
F: Makenna Egan, WKU
Preseason Poll (first-place votes)
Liberty (9) 81 points
Missouri State 62 points
Delaware (1) 61 points
WKU 55 points
FIU 52 points
MTSU 46 points
Sam Houston 39 points
NM State 29 points
Kennesaw State 13 points
Jax State 12 points
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's Soccer
MF
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