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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Isabella Mazzaferro & the Falcons have been picked to finish third in the MAC in 2026
Photo by: Notre Dame Athletics
Falcons Picked to Place Third in the MAC in 2026
August 11, 2026 | Women's Soccer
Fox & Staff Return 19 Players from the 2025 Club that Advanced to the MAC Tournament Final
CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Mid-American Conference women's soccer coaches have had their say, and Bowling Green State University has been picked to finish third in the league regular-season race this season. The 2026 preseason poll, the result of voting by the conference's 12 head coaches, was released by the league office on Tuesday afternoon (Aug. 11).
Head coach Chris Fox's club garnered a total of 101 points in the poll. Western Michigan was picked to win the league regular-season title, receiving 119 points and nine of the 12 first-place votes. Miami earned 102 points and two first-place votes, followed by the Falcons.
Buffalo was picked to finish fourth, receiving 97 points and the remaining first-place vote, followed by Kent State, Ball State, Eastern Michigan, Ohio, Massachusetts, Toledo, Central Michigan and Akron.
WMU was predicted to capture the conference tourney crown by four coaches, with BGSU receiving three votes, Buffalo and Miami two apiece and Kent State one.
The Falcons return 19 student-athletes from last season's club. The 2025 Falcons finished with an overall record of 10-3-9, and BGSU went 4-1-7 in MAC play. The Falcons finished sixth in the then 13-team league, then proceeded to advance past third-seeded Buffalo and second-seeded Miami in the MAC Tournament, making it all the way to the championship match.
The 2026 Falcons begin the regular-season schedule on Sunday (August 16), taking on Robert Morris at Cochrane Stadium. First touch is set for 1:00 p.m., and admission is free.
The complete poll, along with recent poll predictions and the Falcons' actual league finishes, can be found below. For more information on the women's soccer program, follow the Falcons on Twitter/X (@BGSU_Athletics and @BGSU_WSoccer), Instagram (bgsu_wsoccer) and Facebook (bgsuwsoc) as well as on the web right here at BGSUFalcons.com.
MAC WOMEN'S SOCCER PRESEASON POLL
1. Western Michigan – 119 (9 first-place votes)
2. Miami – 102 (2)
3. Bowling Green – 101
4. Buffalo – 97 (1)
5. Kent State – 82
6. Ball State – 60
7. Eastern Michigan – 58
8. Ohio – 56
9. Massachusetts – 49
10. Toledo – 27
11. Central Michigan – 23
12. Akron – 18
Predicted MAC Tournament Winner: Western Michigan 4; Bowling Green 3; Buffalo, Miami 2; Kent State 1.
BGSU'S RECENT MAC PRESEASON POLL PREDICTIONS AND ACTUAL FINISH
2016 – Sixth in East Division (Actual Finish: Fourth in East)
2017 – Sixth in East (AF: Second in East; Advanced to MAC Tournament Final)
2018 – Third (AF: Won MAC Regular-Season and MAC Tournament Titles)
2019 – First (AF: Won MAC Regular-Season and MAC Tournament Titles)
2020 (spring '21) – First in East (AF: Won MAC Regular-Season and MAC Tournament Titles)
2021 – Second (AF: Won MAC Regular-Season and MAC Tournament Titles)
2022 – Second (AF: Third; Advanced to MAC Tournament Semifinals)
2023 – Fourth (AF: Second; Advanced to MAC Tournament Semifinals)
2024 – Sixth (AF: Sixth; Advanced to MAC Tournament Quarterfinals)
2025 – Fifth (AF: Sixth; Advanced to MAC Tournament Final)
2026 – Third
Head coach Chris Fox's club garnered a total of 101 points in the poll. Western Michigan was picked to win the league regular-season title, receiving 119 points and nine of the 12 first-place votes. Miami earned 102 points and two first-place votes, followed by the Falcons.
Buffalo was picked to finish fourth, receiving 97 points and the remaining first-place vote, followed by Kent State, Ball State, Eastern Michigan, Ohio, Massachusetts, Toledo, Central Michigan and Akron.
WMU was predicted to capture the conference tourney crown by four coaches, with BGSU receiving three votes, Buffalo and Miami two apiece and Kent State one.
The Falcons return 19 student-athletes from last season's club. The 2025 Falcons finished with an overall record of 10-3-9, and BGSU went 4-1-7 in MAC play. The Falcons finished sixth in the then 13-team league, then proceeded to advance past third-seeded Buffalo and second-seeded Miami in the MAC Tournament, making it all the way to the championship match.
The 2026 Falcons begin the regular-season schedule on Sunday (August 16), taking on Robert Morris at Cochrane Stadium. First touch is set for 1:00 p.m., and admission is free.
The complete poll, along with recent poll predictions and the Falcons' actual league finishes, can be found below. For more information on the women's soccer program, follow the Falcons on Twitter/X (@BGSU_Athletics and @BGSU_WSoccer), Instagram (bgsu_wsoccer) and Facebook (bgsuwsoc) as well as on the web right here at BGSUFalcons.com.
MAC WOMEN'S SOCCER PRESEASON POLL
1. Western Michigan – 119 (9 first-place votes)
2. Miami – 102 (2)
3. Bowling Green – 101
4. Buffalo – 97 (1)
5. Kent State – 82
6. Ball State – 60
7. Eastern Michigan – 58
8. Ohio – 56
9. Massachusetts – 49
10. Toledo – 27
11. Central Michigan – 23
12. Akron – 18
Predicted MAC Tournament Winner: Western Michigan 4; Bowling Green 3; Buffalo, Miami 2; Kent State 1.
BGSU'S RECENT MAC PRESEASON POLL PREDICTIONS AND ACTUAL FINISH
2016 – Sixth in East Division (Actual Finish: Fourth in East)
2017 – Sixth in East (AF: Second in East; Advanced to MAC Tournament Final)
2018 – Third (AF: Won MAC Regular-Season and MAC Tournament Titles)
2019 – First (AF: Won MAC Regular-Season and MAC Tournament Titles)
2020 (spring '21) – First in East (AF: Won MAC Regular-Season and MAC Tournament Titles)
2021 – Second (AF: Won MAC Regular-Season and MAC Tournament Titles)
2022 – Second (AF: Third; Advanced to MAC Tournament Semifinals)
2023 – Fourth (AF: Second; Advanced to MAC Tournament Semifinals)
2024 – Sixth (AF: Sixth; Advanced to MAC Tournament Quarterfinals)
2025 – Fifth (AF: Sixth; Advanced to MAC Tournament Final)
2026 – Third
Tuesday, August 04
Wednesday, July 15
Wednesday, July 01
Saturday, November 08