Eastern Illinois women's soccer returns a veteran team this season as the Panthers have been selected second in the Ohio Valley Conference preseason poll released on Tuesday.
 
EIU posted an 8-8-1 record last season including a 5-3-1 mark in OVC play.
 
The Panthers return three first team All-OVC selections from last year including Goalkeeper of the Year Ella Kratochvil, forward Alex Tetteh and defender Colleen Bauer.
 
EIU had two players listed for players to watch for the upcoming season with seniors Abby Reinl and Brooklynn Greene.   Reinl was the OVC Midfielder of the Year two seasons ago while Greene has been a consistent starter during her Panther career.
 
Lindenwood was tabbed as the preseason favorite with nine first place votes.  EIU was second in the preseason poll with five first place votes and Southern Indiana was third with the remaining two first place votes.  UT Martin, SIUE, Southeast Missouri, Morehead State and Western Illinois rounded out the preseason poll.
 
The Panthers host Southern Illinois on August 5 for the first of two home exhibition matches.   The regular season opener takes place at home at Lakeside Field on Thursday, August 13 hosting Valparaiso.  This year's OVC opener will be at SIUE on Sept. 27.
 
 
2026 OVC Women's Soccer Predicted Order of Finish
1. Lindenwood (9) - 93
2. Eastern Illinois (5) - 87
3. Southern Indiana (2) - 77
4. UT Martin - 55
5. SIUE - 52
6. Southeast Missouri - 39
7. Morehead State - 31
8. Western Illinois - 14
 
2026 Women's Soccer Returning All-OVC
D – Colleen Bauer, Jr. – Eastern Illinois
GK – Ella Kratochvil, Sr. – Eastern Illinois
F – Alex Tetteh, Sr. – Eastern Illinois
F – Mackenzie Compton, Jr. – Lindenwood
MF – Tasneem Dizdarevic, Jr. – Lindenwood
D – Allison Schrumpf, Sr. – Lindenwood
D – Emma Schut, Jr. – Southern Indiana
F – Peyton Cook, Sr. – UT Martin
GK – Mac Titus, R-Sr. – UT Martin
 
 
2026 OVC Women's Soccer Watch List
Abby Reinl, Sr., F – Eastern Illinois
Brooklynn Greene, Sr., MF - Eastern Illinois
Anna Johnson, Sr., F – Lindenwood
Caroline Ritter, Jr., GK – Lindenwood
Faith Pepper, Fr., D – Morehead State
Hannah Burke, Sr., D – Morehead State
Laia Amat, Jr., D – Southeast Missouri
Rachel Kretzer, So., MF – Southeast Missouri
Tori Bockstadter, So. F – SIUE
Sarah Bozeman, Sr. GK – SIUE
Ava Hess, Jr., MF - Southern Indiana
Payton Seymour, Gr., F - Southern Indiana
Unni Wolf, Jr., MF – UT Martin
Millie Perry, Jr., F – UT Martin
Hope Welsh, Jr., D – Western Illinois
Rita Moran, Jr., D – Western Illinois