BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Ella Poppinga earned Patriot League Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year, the conference announced on Thursday.

Junior Josie Tunney and senior Ella Poppinga each made the 2026 Preseason All-Patriot League Women's Soccer Team.

The Raiders were voted to place third in the preseason poll taking 62 votes. Third is the highest preseason poll position for Colgate since 2021.

Poppinga earned Colgate's first preseason major honor since 2021 and first Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year honor in program history.

The senior captain started 19 games last season between the pipes for the Raiders finishing with 87 saves, four clean sheets, and a 9-6-4 record. 

Tunney picked up her first Preseason All-Patriot League selection after earning a Second Team All-Patriot League selection along with a spot on the Patriot League All-Tournament Team last season. The junior forward scored six goals and added two assists last season including a run of four goals in three games in conference play.

The Raiders will kickoff their 2026 campaign against Pepperdine in Malibu, Calif. on August 13. Start time is set for 3 p.m. PST and 6 p.m. EST.

2026 Patriot League Women's Soccer Preseason Poll
1. Army West Point, 77 (6 first-place votes)
2. Boston University, 76 (4 first-place votes)
3. Colgate, 62
4. Loyola Maryland, 51
5. Holy Cross, 43
6. Navy, 41
t-7. Bucknell, 35
t-7. Lafayette, 35
9. American, 16
10. Lehigh, 14

2026 Patriot League Preseason Women's Soccer Major Awards
Preseason Forward of the Year – Bella Conti, Army West Point, Jr. F
Preseason Midfielder of the Year – Nadia Zaffanella, Lafayette, Sr., M
Preseason Defender of the Year - Helene Tyburczy, Boston University, Gr., D
Goalkeeper of the Year – Ella Poppinga, Colgate, Sr., GK

2026 Preseason All-Patriot League Women's Soccer Team*
Bella Conti, Army West Point, Jr., F
Sophia Henry, Army West Point, So., F
Olivia Avellar, Boston University, Jr., F
Katie Connell, Bucknell, Jr., F
Josie Tunney, Colgate, Jr., F
Grace Pohlidal, Army West Point, Jr., M
Ciara Kennedy, Boston University, Sr., M
Nadia Zaffanella, Lafayette, Sr., M
Daisy West, Army West Point, Jr., D
Helene Tyburczy, Boston University, Gr., D
Karenna Beckstein, Holy Cross, Sr., D
Helen Bonner, Navy, So., D
Ella Poppinga, Colgate, Sr., GK

Note: Student-athletes are listed by positions; then alphabetically by institution
*Due to a tie in voting, there are 13 members on the Preseason All-Patriot League Women's Soccer Team

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