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Women's Soccer

Norse women’s soccer slated for second-place finish in Horizon League Preseason Poll

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Northern Kentucky University Norse women's soccer is nearing the opening of its 2026 campaign, as the Horizon League announced its preseason poll for the upcoming season on Monday. Voted on by the league's coaches, the Norse received 119 votes in the poll, putting them in second place in the now 12-team league. 

Northern Kentucky sits just one slot behind defending champion Milwaukee and is ahead of third-place Youngstown State and fourth-place Green Bay. 

The Norse return a pair of 2025 Horizon League All-League selections to its 2025 roster, as second team forward Erykah Cornett and second team defender Sophia Kapszukiewicz are both expected to again play a major role in the 2026 campaign.

Last season, Cornett led both the Norse and the Horizon League with ten goals, doing so in just 17 matches. She finished second on the Norse in points with 21 last season, and also earned Horizon League All-Tournament Team honors after scoring in last year's semifinal loss against Green Bay. The Cincinnati native & Oak Hills grad has now scored 16 career goals and set up seven career assists, and leads all active Norse players in points (39), goals, and is tied with fellow senior Kylie Anderson with seven career college assists to lead the squad. 

Kapszukiewicz, a senior from Loveland, Ohio, enters her senior campaign following a 2025 season where she ranked second on the team in minutes played with 1646 and started in all of Northern Kentucky's 19 matches. Kapszukiewicz netted her first collegiate goal in 2025 and recorded three assists, the most of any defender on NKU's 2025 roster. 

Northern Kentucky returns plenty more experienced talent to its 2026 squad, as senior forward Megan Molner returns after a breakout season in 2025. Molner scored eight goals last season, ranking fifth in the Horizon League, with four of those being game-winners, the most of any player in the conference. Senior midfielder Kylie Anderson looks to bounce back after suffering a season-ending injury just four games into the 2025 season. Over three years with the Norse, she's scored 11 goals and set up 7 assists, with her 29 career points ranking second among active Norse. Natalie Newman will again look to be a consistent attacking force for Northern Kentucky, as she's scored seven goals and recorded four assists over three seasons with the Norse. Another key senior on the 2026 squad is midfielder Gabi Folino, who appeared in all 19 matches for the Norse last season. 

Other key returners for the Norse include sophomore defender Olivia Lengel, who ranked fifth on the squad in minutes played last year in 19 matches and 15 starts; junior Catilin Evans, who made 17 starts and logged over 1300 minutes in 2025; and junior midfielder Riley Evans, a junior midfielder who made 14 starts for the Norse last fall. 

Northern Kentucky also brings in a swell of new talent to its 2026 roster, as Dayton transfer & St. Louis native Emma Gianino will look to give the Norse some additional help in the midfield, while junior defender Mikaela Bevelander brings two years of starting experience from Tiffin. The Norse also added sophomore transfer goalkeeper Autumn Bishop to the squad, while adding four transfers. 

View the full Horizon League Women's Soccer preseason poll below. 
2026 Under Armour #HLWSOC Preseason Poll
Place. Team – Points
1. Milwaukee – 142
2. Northern Kentucky – 119
3. Youngstown State – 103
4. Green Bay – 102
5. Oakland – 93
6. Wright State – 90
7. NIU – 72
8. IU Indianapolis – 61
9. Cleveland State – 57
10. RMU – 47
11. Detroit Mercy – 26
12. Purdue Fort Wayne – 24

Northern Kentucky opens the season on August 12, taking on Austin Peay in Clarksville at 2 PM. 

FOLLOW NKU NORSE WOMEN'S SOCCER
Get in the game and follow Northern Kentucky's NCAA Division I women's soccer team through @NKUNorseWSOC on Twitter, @NKUNorseWSOC on Instagram, nkunorsewsoc on Facebook and subscribe to the NKU Norse YouYube channel.
 
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Players Mentioned

Mikaela Bevelander

#11 Mikaela Bevelander

D
5' 10"
Junior
Emma Gianino

#8 Emma Gianino

M/F
5' 3"
Senior
Olivia Lengel

#7 Olivia Lengel

D
5' 5"
Sophomore
Kylie Anderson

#20 Kylie Anderson

M
5' 7"
Senior
Autumn Bishop

#33 Autumn Bishop

GK
5' 8"
Sophomore
Erykah Cornett

#22 Erykah Cornett

F
5' 6"
Senior
Riley Evans

#17 Riley Evans

M
5' 5"
Junior
Gabi Folino

#10 Gabi Folino

M
5' 9"
Senior
Sophia Kapszukiewicz

#13 Sophia Kapszukiewicz

D
5' 9"
Senior
Megan Molner

#5 Megan Molner

F
5' 5"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Mikaela Bevelander

#11 Mikaela Bevelander

5' 10"
Junior
D
Emma Gianino

#8 Emma Gianino

5' 3"
Senior
M/F
Olivia Lengel

#7 Olivia Lengel

5' 5"
Sophomore
D
Kylie Anderson

#20 Kylie Anderson

5' 7"
Senior
M
Autumn Bishop

#33 Autumn Bishop

5' 8"
Sophomore
GK
Erykah Cornett

#22 Erykah Cornett

5' 6"
Senior
F
Riley Evans

#17 Riley Evans

5' 5"
Junior
M
Gabi Folino

#10 Gabi Folino

5' 9"
Senior
M
Sophia Kapszukiewicz

#13 Sophia Kapszukiewicz

5' 9"
Senior
D
Megan Molner

#5 Megan Molner

5' 5"
Senior
F