Westminster seventh in PAC women's soccer preseason coaches' poll

TRAFFORD, Pa.--The Westminster women's soccer program was picked to finish the 2026 season seventh in the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC). The results of this year's preseason coaches' poll, voted on by the conference's 13 head coaches, were revealed with the PAC's Players to Watch List Friday morning.

Led by 24th-year head coach Girish Thakar, Westminster received 65 points in the poll. Three-time defending PAC champion Grove City claimed the top spot in this year's preseason poll with 132 points and 11 first-place votes. Saint Vincent was second with 115 points and Waynesburg was third with 111 points and the final two first-place votes.

Three returning starters highlight the players to watch list: seniors Jocelyn Gratchic (Connellsville, Pa., Connellsville) and Giulianna Russell (Kinston, N.C., Wayne Christian), along with sophomore Hailey McQueen (Sellersville, Pa., Faith Christian Academy), were highlighted.

Gratchic missed the 2025 season due to injury. Russell started in 16-of-17 games she appeared in, led the team in goals with three and was named Second Team All-PAC for the first time in her career. McQueen appeared in all 17 games and made 14 starts.

Westminster opens its season at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 1 at the UPMC Sports Complex against Oberlin. The Titans begin conference play on Tuesday, Sept. 15 at 5 p.m. against Thiel. The league's regular season concludes Wednesday, Oct. 28 with the six-team PAC Championship Tournament scheduled to get underway Saturday, Oct. 31. The title match is slated for Saturday, Nov. 7.

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Players Mentioned

#19 Jocelyn Gratchic: F; 5' 4"; Senior; Riverhounds Development Academy

#6 Hailey McQueen: D; 5' 6"; Sophomore; Hex FC

#14 Giulianna Russell: D; 5' 6"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#19 Jocelyn Gratchic
: 5' 4"; Senior; Riverhounds Development Academy
: F

#6 Hailey McQueen
: 5' 6"; Sophomore; Hex FC
: D

#14 Giulianna Russell
: 5' 6"; Senior
: D

Players Mentioned

#19 Jocelyn Gratchic

#6 Hailey McQueen

#14 Giulianna Russell

Players Mentioned

#19 Jocelyn Gratchic

#6 Hailey McQueen

#14 Giulianna Russell

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