SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The University of North Dakota soccer program was selected seventh in the 2026 Summit League Preseason Coaches' Poll while Cora Ellermann and Hannah Peters represented the Fighting Hawks as Summit League Players to Watch, league officials announced on Tuesday.
 
North Dakota finished with 14 points to finish seventh out of eight teams in the poll after going 8-7-3 overall last season with a 2-4-2 showing in conference action. Oral Roberts topped the release with 48 total points and six first-place votes as South Dakota State picked up the final two first-place votes alongside 44 points. Omaha followed with 33 points to complete the top three as South Dakota (30), Kansas City (27), North Dakota State (20), North Dakota (14) and St. Thomas (8) rounded out the poll.
 
First-time Summit League Players to Watch honorees Ellermann and Peters are each set to play key roles within the Fighting Hawks squad as Ellermann returns for her second season with UND and Peters makes her official UND debut.
 
Ellermann made North Dakota history during the 2025 soccer season, breaking the program's single season assist record at nine on the year. She collected Second Team All-Summit and All-Newcomer Team honors in her junior year campaign, appearing in the top 10 of the conference in goals, average goals per game, total assists, average assists per game and total points. Ellermann appeared in all 18 games for the Fighting Hawks last season with 1201 minutes of action as she led the team with 19 points and nine assists while adding five goals.
 
Peters comes to Grand Forks after spending her freshman season at Long Beach State where she appeared in 12 games and logged one assist and one shot on goal off four attempts. She scored 26 goals alongside 11 assists in her prep career and became a three-time All-Conference honoree. Peters was named the MVP of her team as a senior, was a two-time CSO Top 100 Athlete and earned AP Scholar distinction.
 
North Dakota soccer will formally begin regular season competition this week as the Fighting Hawks head out to take on Minnesota this Thursday, August 13 at 7 p.m.

2026 Summit League Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll
Rank	School	Points (1st)	2025 Record (SL)
1.	Oral Roberts	48 (6)	13-5-2 (6-1-1, 19 pts.)
2.	South Dakota State	44 (2)	13-3-6 (4-1-3, 15 pts.)
3.	Omaha	33	6-9-4 (3-4-1, 10 pts.)
4.	South Dakota	30	7-6-6 (3-3-2, 11 pts.)
5.	Kansas City	27	9-8-3 (3-3-2, 11 pts.)
6.	North Dakota State	20	5-12-1 (1-6-1, 4 pts.)
7.	North Dakota	14	8-7-3 (2-4-2, 8 pts.)
8.	St. Thomas	8	3-9-4 (0-5-3, 3 pts.)

2026 Summit League Women's Soccer Players To Watch
Kansas City: Ashley Koch (R-Jr., Forward) and Olivia Platt (R-Sr., Midfielder)
North Dakota: Cora Ellermann (Sr., Midfielder) and Hannah Peters (So., Midfielder)
North Dakota State: Amaya Garrett (Sr., Defender) and Morgan Russmann (Jr., Forward)
Omaha: Kendall Dobberstein (So., Forward) and Alyssa Kellar (Gr., Forward)
Oral Roberts: Brianna Castleberry (R-Sr., Forward) and Precious Edosa (Jr., Defender)
St. Thomas: Sofia Englund (Sr., Forward/Midfielder) and Izzy McEwan (Jr., Forward/Midfielder)
South Dakota: Mali Van Meeteren (Sr., Midfielder) and Klarissa Vega (R-So., Forward)
South Dakota State: Mallorie Benhart (Sr., Goalkeeper) and Mia Bosch (Jr., Midfielder)
 
For updates and information on North Dakota soccer, follow on social media @UNDsoccer or visit FightingHawks.com.