The 2025 South Atlantic Conference women’s soccer preseason coaches poll was released Tuesday.
Tusculum University sophomore Addison Rishling was named to the preseason All-Conference team while grad student Wilma Axelsson and senior Marja Enste are Players to Watch for the 2025 season for the Pioneers, who were 4-11-1 overall last season and 2-8-1 in conference play.
Rishling led the Pioneers with seven goals and 14 points in 14 matches, with five of her goals coming in nine SAC contests. Rishling had back-to-back two-goal matches against Emory & Henry and Limestone and was honored as the SAC WePlayed Sports Offensive Player of the Week and the Tennessee Sports Writers Association Player of the Week for her efforts.
The Wonder Lake, Illinois native scored three of the Pioneers’ four match-winning goals during the season, and was tied for fourth in the conference in winners.
Axelsson is a three-year starter at midfield who had two goals and two assists for six points in 11 matches last season. The Ytterby, Sweden native has played 43 career matches for the Pioneers (25 starts) and has two goals and three assists for seven points, along with 21 shot attempts.
Enste is a two-time team Most Valuable Player who has started all 50 matches on defense for the Pioneers since the start of her freshman season. The Aachen, Germany native has led the Pioneers in minutes played each of her three years and has one goal and seven assists for nine points in her career.
Wingate took the top spot in the preseason poll with five first-place votes and 94 points, just ahead of Catawba with four first-place votes and 91 points. Lenoir-Rhyne was third in the poll with two first-place votes and 88 points.
The rest of the survey starts with Lincoln Memorial in fourth with 66 points, followed by Anderson (64), Carson-Newman (56), Coker (47), Emory & Henry (37), Newberry (27), Tusculum (25) and Mars Hill (10).
The Pioneers open the 2025 season on the road at Thomas More on Thursday, September 4 beginning at 7 p.m. Tusculum’s home opener is Sunday, Sept. 14 at noon against West Alabama, and conference play begins on Saturday, Sept. 20 at Newberry starting at 3:30 p.m.
– TU –
2025 South Atlantic Conference Women’s Soccer Preseason All-Conference
Forwards
Bree Ehmer, Catawba
Audur Helga Halldorsdottir, Wingate
Addison Rishling, Tusculum
Ansley Douty, Anderson
Midfielders
Maria Rayburn, Catawba
Katie Ensalaco, Wingate
Ava Hartman, Lenoir-Rhyne
Kylie Morin, Catawba
Defenders
Noor Njeim, Coker
Viktoria Filsner, Lincoln Memorial
Donna van der Zalm, Lincoln Memorial
Rosa Gonzalez, Lenoir-Rhyne
Goalkeeper
Riley Miller, Lenoir-Rhyne
Players to Watch by Program
Anderson: Catherine Nardella, Sr., F, Meggie Powell, Sr., D
Carson-Newman: Felicia Frick, Sr., MF, Malia Kim, Sr., MF, Iris Palsdottir, Jr., D
Coker: Rhyan Parkin, Jr., GK, Noor Njeim, Sr., D
Emory & Henry: Charlotte Stavis, Jr., F/M, Olivia DaSilva, Sr., D, Sadie Moseley, Fr., F
Lincoln Memorial: Emma Cooke, Jr., GK
Mars Hill: Samantha Swinson, Jr., F, Mia Calderon, So., M/F, Saga Karlsson Rowa, So., MF
Newberry: Emily Castaneda, Sr., D, Bella Gonzalez, So., MF, Mikaela Warburton, So., MF, Ella McDevitt, Sr., MF
Tusculum: Wilma Axelsson, Gr., MF, Marja Enste, Sr., D
Wingate: Gabby Agelis, Sr., D
2025 SAC Women’s Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll
| Rank | School (First-Place Votes) | Pts. |
| 1. | Wingate (5) | 94 |
| 2. | Catawba (4) | 91 |
| 3. | Lenoir-Rhyne (2) | 88 |
| 4. | Lincoln Memorial | 66 |
| 5. | Anderson | 64 |
| 6. | Carson-Newman | 56 |
| 7. | Coker | 47 |
| 8. | Emory & Henry | 37 |
| 9. | Newberry | 27 |
| 10. | Tusculum | 25 |
| 11. | Mars Hill | 10 |
