Rock Hill, S.C. – The Big South Conference has announced their Preseason Players to Watch for the upcoming 2026 women’s soccer season and four Eagles have landed on the list.
The four Eagles recognized among the conference’s best are senior midfielder Monssi Avila-Gutierrez, junior midfielder Cordelia McIntosh, junior defender Mia Silber and sophomore forward Lindsay Sheets.
Avila-Gutierrez was named All-Big South First Team last season after leading the Eagles in goals (5) and points (10).
McIntosh enters her junior year after tying for second on the team in goals (2) during her sophomore campaign, while also being named to the Big South Midseason Watch List last season.
Silber looks to continue to be the defensive anchor in the backfield for the Eagles this season, coming off a season which included six shutouts.
Finally, Sheets was named to the conference’s All-Freshman Team in her first season in Rock Hill last year.
Below are the highlighted players from around the conference, listed by position and presented in alphabetical order by school.FORWARDS – Name, School
Delaney Evers, Charleston Southern
Ila Allred, Gardner-Webb
Sabba Haghgoo, High Point
Morgan Wilcox, High Point
Samantha Fischer, Longwood
Peyton Curney, Longwood
Maddi Merryweather, Presbyterian
Lindsay Sheets, Winthrop
MIDFIELDERS – Name
Rachel Gopalakrishnan, Charleston Southern
Haley Swenson, Charleston Southern
Peyton O’linn, Gardner-Webb
Kari Powell, High Point
Meghan Piazza, Longwood
Coryn Silberstein, Longwood
Emilia Lieber, Presbyterian
Katelynn Ciolek, Presbyterian
Ava Kertgate, Radford
Manuela Schreier, UNC Asheville
Monssi Avila-Gutierrez, Winthrop
Cordelia McIntosh, Winthrop
DEFENDERS – Name, School
Cadance Bell, Charleston Southern
Noor Reslan, Gardner-Webb
Coryn McDonnell, High Point
Kasey Resker, High Point
Bernice Wayland, Longwood
Sydney Stoner, Presbyterian
Avery Kornafel, Presbyterian
Caitlyn Nottingham, Radford
Campbell Stoll, UNC Asheville
Kathleen Doane, UNC Asheville
Mia Silber, Winthrop
GOALKEEPERS – Name, School
Avery Mason, Charleston Southern
Lexi Radvanyi, RadfordFollow Us On Social Media
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Story courtesy of Winthrop Athletics.
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Thomas Hyslip lives in Tega Cay with his wife and daughter. After 27 years in the U.S. Army and Federal Law Enforcement, he retired to pursue his passion for teaching. Tom is now an Assistant Professor of Instruction at the University of South Florida. In 2 short years he has won 10 awards from the South Carolina Press Association, including first place in column writing, education beat reporting and best podcast.