Elon, the reigning CAA champions, received eight of 12 first-place votes in the South Division to top the preseason poll for the second consecutive season. The Phoenix accrued 62 total points in the poll, the most of any team in either division.  
 

Bisgrove returns to Elon's net this season after earning All-CAA Third Team and CAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player honors in 2025. The junior goalkeeper set a single-season Elon Division I record last season with nine shutouts, which included a streak of six in a row, the longest by a CAA women's soccer goalkeeper since 2007. Bisgrove led all CAA goalkeepers in save percentage (.869), goals against average (0.78) and saves (106) last season. In Elon's CAA title run, she allowed just one goal in 310 minutes of action, making a career-best 12 saves in the semifinal against UNCW before making 10 more stops in the conference title match at Stony Brook.  
 

Gelhaus became the first Elon player to win CAA Defender of the Year last season after notching 17 points, the second most on the team and the most by a Phoenix defender since 2013. The senior was one of the top 10 CAA scorers last season, with her seven goals ranking tied for fifth in the conference. Four of her seven goals were game-winning tallies, including the difference-maker in a crucial CAA road win at Campbell. Gelhaus has made the All-CAA First Team each of the last two seasons and was named to last season's CAA All-Tournament Team after playing all 310 minutes during Elon's championship run.  
 

Hellner is back to anchor Elon's midfield again in 2026 after logging over 1,700 minutes a season ago. The fifth-year midfielder finished with nine points last season with three goals and three assists. All three of her helpers came in conference matches against UNCW, Campbell and Towson. Hellner went 3-for-3 on penalty kicks last season, scoring one in the regular season in a win at George Mason before making both her attempts in Elon's CAA championship run. Hellner played the third most minutes among Elon field players last season after appearing in all 21 matches.  
 

Murdock led the Phoenix with a career-high 20 points last season, the most by a Phoenix since 2019, and matched Gelhaus with a team-best seven goals to earn All-CAA Second Team honors. Four of Murdock's seven tallies came against CAA opponents, including Elon's goal in the CAA championship match against Stony Brook. Murdock finished tied for third among CAA scorers in points and tied for fifth in the conference in goals. In nonconference play, Murdock scored the game-winning goal for Elon against Gardner-Webb and assisted on a game-winning tally at High Point. She was named to the CAA All-Tournament Team after logging almost 300 minutes during Elon's conference championship run.  
 

Elon opens its regular season Thursday against VCU at Rudd Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

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