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Binghamton University Athletics

2026 Softball Preseason Poll

Softball Picked First in AE Preseason Poll

| By: David O’Brian (dobrian@binghamton.edu)

Bearcats land conference-best seven preseason all-conference selections

VESTAL, N.Y. – The America East Conference has released its preseason softball poll and Binghamton is the unanimous choice to finish first. In addition, the Bearcats posted seven preseason all-conference selections - the most of any team.

The voting for the preseason poll was done by the six head coaches in the conference - none of whom were allowed to vote for their own team. The Bearcats got all five possible first-place votes and accumulated the maximum 25 points.

Bryant, which was the runner up last year, finished with 19 points and received the other first-place vote. UMBC (15), UAlbany (13), UMass Lowell (11) and Maine (7) rounded out the field.

This marks the third time in program history that Binghamton has been picked first in the America East Preseason Poll. The Bearcats were also tops in 2016 and 2018.

Of the Bearcats' seven preseason all-conference honorees, three were repeat selections. They include senior pitcher Brianna Roberts, senior infielder Emma Lawson and junior catcher Elisa Allen. Roberts was the 2025 America East Pitcher of the Year while Allen was the conference's Player of the Year. Lawson, meanwhile, joined both of them as a first-team all-conference pick.

Sophomore designated player Rachel Carey was the 2025 America East Rookie of the Year. Other first-time choices are senior infielder Akira Kopec, senior pitcher Olivia Kennedy and junior outfielder Maddy Dodig. Kennedy was named first-team all-conference last season while Dodig was a second-team choice as an infielder. Kopec, meanwhile, was named to the America East All-Tournament Team.

This is the second season that the America East has posted a preseason all-conference softball team.

Binghamton went 36-14 in 2025, swept the  America East regular season and conference titles and advanced to the NCAA Regionals. The Bearcats also finished the year with a No. 17 ranking in the D1Softball.com Mid-Major Poll and a No. 77 RPI (out of 309 Division I teams). 






 
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