NAPERVILLE — For the second straight year, Carroll has been selected as the preseason favorite to win the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) women’s lacrosse title, as voted on by the league’s head coaches.
 
2026 CCIW Women's Lacrosse Preseason Coaches' Poll

Team (First-place votes)	Points
1. Carroll (5)	25
2. Carthage (1)	21
3. Illinois Wesleyan	13
T4. Augustana	12
T4. North Central	12
6. Elmhurst	7

The Pioneers received 25 points and collected five of the six first-place votes in the 2026 preseason poll announced Thursday. Carthage was picked second with 21 points and one first-place vote. Illinois Wesleyan placed third with 13 points. Augustana and North Central tied for fourth with 12 points apiece. Elmhurst finished sixth with seven points.
 
Carroll is coming off a 2025 season in which it went 5-0 in CCIW play to secure the regular-season championship. The Pioneers also won the 2025 CCIW Tournament, defeating Carthage 12-2 in the final, and advanced to the NCAA postseason. Carroll has now been the preseason selection in back-to-back seasons.
 
Head coach Michael Hodge, the 2025 CCIW Coach of the Year, said the preseason projection does not change the work required in conference play.
 
“The path is not any easier,” Hodge said. “It’s only going to be harder with that target on our back.”
 
Hodge added the program’s focus is on starting over, rather than revisiting last season’s results.
 
Senior midfielder Samantha Hurd, an All-CCIW First Team selection in 2025, echoed the approach and noted the attention that comes with being the defending champion.
 
“It’s an honor … to be recognized as one of the top teams, but it does carry a lot of pressure and weight with it, too,” Hurd said. “The CCIW Tournament … can go any way.”
 
The Pioneers return multiple starters from 2025, including CCIW Offensive Student-Athlete of the Year Elizabeth Wang, who led the CCIW in points (82) last season and set a conference record with 159 shots. Defensively, Carroll also returns All-CCIW First Team selections Grace Tumilty and goalkeeper Devon Duym.
 
The regular season is slated to begin on Feb. 14 when Carthage visits Calvin and Augustana hosts Hanover. League play begins with a full afternoon of games on Saturday, April 4.