COLUMBUS, Ga. | The Columbus State University Women's Soccer team was selected as the favorite in the 2026 Peach Belt Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll, while Mia Robinson, Kelsey Croft, and Payton Conti were named to the PBC Preseason All-Conference Team.
The Cougars received three first-place votes and 73 points to narrowly edge North Georgia, which collected six first-place votes and 71 points. Lander followed in third with 66 points, while Georgia College & State University received the remaining first-place vote and placed fourth with 57 points.
Columbus State enters the season after capturing its third consecutive PBC Tournament Championship in 2025. After finishing third in the regular-season standings, the Cougars defeated USC Aiken 4-0 at home before earning road victories over second-seeded Lander and top-seeded North Georgia to claim the title.
Robinson delivered the championship-winning goal in CSU's 1-0 victory over North Georgia and finished her debut season with nine goals and five assists for 23 points. She appeared in 20 matches, made 16 starts, and earned Second Team All-PBC recognition.
Croft started all 21 matches and led CSU's field players with 1,663 minutes played. The defender/midfielder helped anchor a Cougar defense that allowed just 15 goals across 21 matches while earning First Team All-PBC and United Soccer Coaches Second Team Scholar All-America honors.
Conti appeared in 19 matches and made 12 starts during the championship campaign. She scored seven goals and added four assists for 18 points, including the opening goal in CSU's 4-0 victory over USC Aiken in the PBC Tournament quarterfinals.
The Cougars finished the 2025 season 14-6-1 overall and 8-2 in conference play. CSU won 10 of its final 12 matches, including eight consecutive contests on its way to the conference tournament title, before concluding the season in the opening round of the NCAA Division II Tournament.
Columbus State opens the 2026 season on Thursday, Aug. 27, against Florida Southern at 7 p.m. at the Walden Soccer Complex.
