ARLINGTON, Va. -- The 2025 Atlantic East Conference champion Marymount women's soccer team has been selected to repeat as conference champions in the upcoming 2026 season, according to the AEC preseason coaches' poll.

The Saints earned 25 points and five first-place votes to lead the poll. Pratt finished second with 18 points, followed by 2025 AEC runner-up Gwynedd Mercy with 17. Immaculata received the remaining first-place vote, while Centenary and Saint Elizabeth rounded out the poll.

Marymount posted an 11-9-2 overall record in 2025 and went 5-1 in conference play. The Saints captured the Atlantic East Championship in front of the home crowd at Long Bridge Park with a 4-0 victory over Gwynedd Mercy. The title marked Marymount's first conference championship since 2023.

Marymount returns several key contributors from last season, including 2025 AEC Rookie of the Year Arianna Blanco. Blanco led the Saints with 11 goals and 27 points as a freshman.

Nicole Alvarado, a 2025 First Team All-AEC selection, also returns after recording 22 points on eight goals and six assists last season. Leila Lajdel, a consistent member of the AEC All-Conference teams and a former conference Rookie of the Year, returns for her senior season.

In goal, Mara Dufour returns after logging the most minutes among Marymount's returning goalkeepers last season and recording two shutouts. Sarah Robinson also returns after going 5-3 with two shutouts in 2025.

Marymount opens the 2026 season on the road at Shenandoah on Tuesday, Sept. 1. The Saints will make their home debut Tuesday, Sept. 15, against Hood at Long Bridge Park.

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