Photo by: Kevan Albright
ACU Picked 4th in Preseason UAC Coaches Poll
8/10/2026 10:46:00 AM | Women's Soccer
The Abilene Christian soccer team was picked fourth out of eight teams in the 2026 UAC Preseason Coaches Poll, the conference announced Monday. The poll is voted upon by each team's head coach.
The Wildcats made significant strides in 2025 by qualifying for the WAC Tournament, its first appearance in a conference tournament since the COVID-delayed season in spring 2021. ACU also garnered four postseason conference honors, the program's most since 2020.
Twelve players return from 2025, including five regular starters: goalkeeper Bella Medrano, top-notch defenders Katy Gregson and Gracie Kelly, midfielder Baylie Simon and forward Shakira Kafero-Roberts. Medrano earned 2nd Team All-WAC and All-Freshman Team honors with 109 saves and three shutouts. Kafero-Roberts, a junior from London, England, scored two game-winning goals in 2025.
"Gracie Kelly should get more recognition," said Stephen Salas, who enters his fourth season as head caoch and 10th overall with the program. "She's a captain as a junior and even had captain qualities last year to where she could have been. She's done fantastic. She is a leader in practices."
"Baylie Simon has really grown a lot this spring and has been our most consistent player," said Salas.
Also returning is captain Aliyah Anderson who missed last year with a torn ACL.
Among the 15 newcomers are Power 4 transfers Jenna Verplancke (Kansas State) and Chloe Nugent (Michigan). Defender Charlise Smith comes to ACU from Green Bay and impressed Salas throughout the summer.
"Charlise has looked fantastic not only on the field, but also off the field. She is one of our most athletic players at outside back. She's really fast, probably one of our three fastest players."
Salas noted freshmen Tavi Decker and Alice Long have been pushing Medrano in net, and MaKayla Galloway and McKenzie Glass have both displayed speed and goal-scoring ability.
Another freshman with great potential is Addison Briscoe who led Smithson Valley to a Class 5A Division I state championship with a perfect 29-0-0 record as a senior. She was named the San Antonio Express-News Girls Soccer Player of the Year after scoring 41 goals and recording 21 assists.
"She should have gotten Gatorade Player of the Year. I still don't know how she didn't," said Salas. "I think she is one of the best players in the state, and I've already seen it translated on the field. She is dangerous and plays like no one else."
The Wildcats felt good about their play in a 0-0 exhibition match draw against Texas State last Saturday. The Bobcats won the Sun Belt Conference Tournament and advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2025.
ACU's regular season schedule includes high-profile non-conference matchups, such as a home game against Big 12 opponent Houston on Aug. 27, which Salas believes will draw significant attention from the Abilene community. The team is also set to host familiar foes like New Mexico State and UTEP. The season opener is Saturday, Aug. 15 against Jackson State in Shreveport, La.
ACU's conference rebranded from the WAC to UAC on July 1 and features six new members for women's soccer.
"I'm excited for the conference. It's always good to go to new places. I think the girls see this as an opportunity, and it doesn't matter if it is UAC, WAC or non-conference opponents, we're going to compete and give it our best and be confident in who we are."
2026 UAC Preseason Women's Soccer Coaches Poll
The Wildcats made significant strides in 2025 by qualifying for the WAC Tournament, its first appearance in a conference tournament since the COVID-delayed season in spring 2021. ACU also garnered four postseason conference honors, the program's most since 2020.
Twelve players return from 2025, including five regular starters: goalkeeper Bella Medrano, top-notch defenders Katy Gregson and Gracie Kelly, midfielder Baylie Simon and forward Shakira Kafero-Roberts. Medrano earned 2nd Team All-WAC and All-Freshman Team honors with 109 saves and three shutouts. Kafero-Roberts, a junior from London, England, scored two game-winning goals in 2025.
"Gracie Kelly should get more recognition," said Stephen Salas, who enters his fourth season as head caoch and 10th overall with the program. "She's a captain as a junior and even had captain qualities last year to where she could have been. She's done fantastic. She is a leader in practices."
"Baylie Simon has really grown a lot this spring and has been our most consistent player," said Salas.
Also returning is captain Aliyah Anderson who missed last year with a torn ACL.
Among the 15 newcomers are Power 4 transfers Jenna Verplancke (Kansas State) and Chloe Nugent (Michigan). Defender Charlise Smith comes to ACU from Green Bay and impressed Salas throughout the summer.
"Charlise has looked fantastic not only on the field, but also off the field. She is one of our most athletic players at outside back. She's really fast, probably one of our three fastest players."
Salas noted freshmen Tavi Decker and Alice Long have been pushing Medrano in net, and MaKayla Galloway and McKenzie Glass have both displayed speed and goal-scoring ability.
Another freshman with great potential is Addison Briscoe who led Smithson Valley to a Class 5A Division I state championship with a perfect 29-0-0 record as a senior. She was named the San Antonio Express-News Girls Soccer Player of the Year after scoring 41 goals and recording 21 assists.
"She should have gotten Gatorade Player of the Year. I still don't know how she didn't," said Salas. "I think she is one of the best players in the state, and I've already seen it translated on the field. She is dangerous and plays like no one else."
The Wildcats felt good about their play in a 0-0 exhibition match draw against Texas State last Saturday. The Bobcats won the Sun Belt Conference Tournament and advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2025.
ACU's regular season schedule includes high-profile non-conference matchups, such as a home game against Big 12 opponent Houston on Aug. 27, which Salas believes will draw significant attention from the Abilene community. The team is also set to host familiar foes like New Mexico State and UTEP. The season opener is Saturday, Aug. 15 against Jackson State in Shreveport, La.
ACU's conference rebranded from the WAC to UAC on July 1 and features six new members for women's soccer.
"I'm excited for the conference. It's always good to go to new places. I think the girls see this as an opportunity, and it doesn't matter if it is UAC, WAC or non-conference opponents, we're going to compete and give it our best and be confident in who we are."
2026 UAC Preseason Women's Soccer Coaches Poll
| Rank | Team (First place votes) |
| 1. | Eastern Kentucky (7) |
| 2. | North Alabama (1) |
| 3. | Little Rock |
| T4. | ACU |
| T4. | Central Arkansas |
| 6. | Tarleton State |
| 7. | Austin Peay |
| 8. | West Georgia |
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/ Women's SoccerTuesday, August 04
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Wednesday, July 29
Wednesday, July 22
