NO. ATTLEBORO, Mass. – The Southern New Hampshire University women's soccer team was chosen fifth in the NE10 Preseason Coaches' Poll on Thursday.
Franklin Pierce University, both the NCAA National Championship and NE10 Championship runner-up, gathered seven of a possible nine first-place votes and 77 total points to take the top spot in the poll. Saint Anselm College, last season's NE10 Regular-Season Champion, earned a first-place vote and 71 points to finish second. Adelphi University (62) and Saint Michael's College (59) each collected the two remaining first-place votes, and slotted in third and fourth, respectively. SNHU, with 50 points, and Bentley University (44) made up the middle of the poll, wth Pace University (30), Assumption University (25), American International College (18) and Southern Connecticut State University (14) rounding it out.
Head coach Elie Monteiro will begin his 13th season leading the Penmen, who are coming off a 2025 campaign that saw them finish 5-8-3, including 3-3-3 in league play. SNHU would bow out in the quarterfinal round of the NE10 Championship.
Southern New Hampshire brings back three of its top five scorers and six of the nine members of the roster that scored a point last season. Overall, the Penmen return 60 percent (32-53) of their scoring from last season. Senior Sneha Limbu (Tung Chung, Hong Kong), last year's leading scorer (5 goals, 10 points) will be counted on, along with fellow senior and NE10 Third Team selection Avary Hall (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.; 1g, 7a, 9p) and sophomore Jillian Collins (Wilmington, Mass.; 2g, 1a, 5p). Junior Emma Noheimer (Oxford, Conn.; 1g, 1a, 3p) should see the pitch a lot and is an important facilitator. Sophomore Norah Walsh (Springfield, Mass.) is the only returner to start more than four matches on the back line last year, as she joins Noheimer as the only two returners to start all 16 contests a year ago. Senior Isabel Hughes (Phoenix, Ariz.) is the only returning member of the team with goalkeeping experience, as she stopped 18 of 24 shots for a .750 save percentage in her two starts.
SNHU will open the season Saturday, Aug. 29 (7 p.m.) when it battles the Florida Institute of Technology – the defending NCAA Division II National Champions. The Penmen will remain in Melbourne, Fla., to take on Embry-Riddle University on Monday, Aug. 31 (7 p.m.), before kicking off their home slate Friday, Sept. 4 (7 p.m.) when they play host to Wilmington (Del.) University at Ouellette Stadium. Be sure to check out @snhupenmen social media channels for the drop of the official 2026 schedule poster prior to the season opener.
For the latest on Southern New Hampshire University athletics, follow the Penmen on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube. You can also sign up for text alerts and email newsletters to stay connected with your favorite SNHU teams.
2026 NE10 Preseason Women's Soccer Coaches' Poll
1. Franklin Pierce – 77 (7)
2. Saint Anselm – 71 (1)
3. Adelphi – 62 (1)
4. Saint Michael's – 59 (1)
5. Southern New Hampshire – 50
6. Bentley – 44
7. Pace – 30
8. Assumption – 25
9. American Int'l – 18
10. Southern Connecticut – 14
