Christopher Newport is favored to win the title for the fourth straight year in the 2024 Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference (C2C) Women's Soccer Preseason Poll, following a vote among the conference head coaches. The Captains earned 25 points and five first-place votes to top the rankings.

UC Santa Cruz was second with 20 points, while Salisbury collected 16 points to rank third.  Mary Washington received one first-place vote and 15 points in fourth place.

Mount Mary and Warren Wilson shared fifth place with seven points apiece.

The 2024 season kicks off August 30 with the C2C Women's Soccer Championship, a 6-team tournament, being hosted by UC Santa Cruz in Santa Cruz, California, on November 7-8-10. 

Below is a brief preview of each team entering the 2024 season:

Christopher Newport: Starting the year ranked No. 5 in the United Soccer Coaches poll, the CNU women's soccer team will open the 2024 campaign with high expectations after a third consecutive unbeaten season. The only school to conclude 2023 without a loss, the Captains have now gone 60-0-7 over the last three seasons to put together the second longest unbeaten streak in Division III history. Three-time Region Coach of the Year and reigning C2C Coach of the Year Jamie Gunderson welcomes back most of his starting lineup including four All-Region selections in seniors Ellie Cox, Reanna Slater, junior Hanna Heaton, and sophomore Amy Sidaway. The CNU defense set program records for shutouts, GAA, save percentage, and shutout percentage a year ago while advancing to the NCAA National Quarterfinals.

UC Santa Cruz: The Banana Slugs are set for the 2024 campaign, returning 20 student-athletes from last season's 12-4-3 squad that fought their way to the C2C Championship final before falling to Christopher Newport in penalties (4-2). Among the returners is the reigning C2C Offensive Player of the Year, Sydney Boyd. Boyd led the charge for UCSC last season, scoring 10 goals with six assists, good for a team high 26 points. Boyd played in 18 contests last season, starting in 17 and will look to continue leading the attack for UCSC. Also among the returners for the Banana Slugs is Camille Anneet and Amelia Brown. Anneet garnered first team All-Conference after scoring four goals and dishing out eight assists while Brown earned second team honors as a goalkeeper with 29 saves on the year and seven shutouts.

Salisbury: The Sea Gulls return 27 student-athletes from the group that finished 10-7-2 in 2023, highlighted by a 5-0-1 streak spanning Sept. 27 – Oct. 17. SU welcomes back a trio of All-C2C performers in senior forwards Ashley Pantano (4 goals, 2 assists in 19 starts) and Kristen Ging (3 goals, 1 assist in 19 starts) along with senior defender/forward Zakiyyah McMillan (1 goal, 1,221 minutes played across 18 starts). Riley Pinato also returns after making 14 starts in goal, turning away 53 tries while earning a 6-6-2 record. The squad welcomes 10 freshmen into the fold in 2024.

Mary Washington: The Eagles return a good amount of veteran experience as all five of its all-conference performers from a season ago in sophomores Maci Landel (forward; first team), Amanda Dolan (defense; first), junior Natalie Anderson (defense; second), and seniors Jazzy Imanverdi (forward; second) and Eliza Franklin (midfield; second) are back in Fredericksburg for another year.  Landel (four goals), Franklin (three), and Imanverdi (three) were the Eagles' leading scorers from a season ago. Meanwhile on defense, where UMW was arguably the strongest a year ago, returns eight of its defenders: senior Erin Reynolds, juniors Cassidy Shaw, Emma McMullen, Jessie Bronski, sophomores Emily Box and Naomi Knight and, of course, Anderson and Dolan.  Goalkeepers Morgan Hicok (senior), Adriana Thompson (junior), and Sydney Alexander (sophomore) are back for Mary Washington as well after the three combined to allow just 22 goals in 18 games played last year.

Mount Mary: The 2024 season begins a new era for Blue Angel Soccer as Peter Knebel takes over as head coach.  Mount Mary posted their highest win total since 2017 last season and the Blue Angels return 10 players from the 2023 team.  Leading goal scorers Sam Reyes, Amanda Antonio, and other consistent starters Dylan Christensen, Brianna Brown and Lexi Behringer highlight the returning group.

Warren Wilson: The 2024 season brings a fresh start under new head coach Maximiliano Viera.  The Owls returning seniors and juniors are stepping up as leaders, and ready to guide the newcomers.  WWC welcomes eight talented freshmen and transfers who bring a wealth of energy and potential to the roster.