Lackey Tabbed Sun Belt Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, JMU Named Preseason Favorite

NEW ORLEANS – Ginny Lackey was named the Preseason Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Year, and James Madison women's soccer was voted the league favorite, the conference announced on Wednesday, Aug. 5.

In total, three Dukes were named preseason All-Sun Belt, with Lackey joined by Aleigha Arndt and Selma Rajakangas. Lackey earned her second career selection to the Preseason All-SBC Team, while Arndt and Rajakangas earned their first recognition of their respective careers.

The Dukes took the conference's top spot in the preseason coaches' poll, receiving six first-place votes and 182 points. Old Dominion, last year's top finisher in the East Division, checked in at second with 173 points. South Alabama was picked to finish third with four first-place votes and 171 points, while Georgia State (141) and ULM (137) rounded out the top five.

JMU completed last season with a 9-4-6 record, holding a 5-2-3 mark in conference play. The Dukes finished second place in the East Division, earning the No. 5 seed in the SBC Championship, eventually falling to No. 4 Texas State in penalties in the quarterfinals.

Lackey, the reigning Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year, earns Preseason Offensive Player of the Year and Preseason All-Conference laurels for the second season in a row. Lackey started all 19 matches and led the Dukes in goals (11) and assists (6) for28 total points in 2025. The Bolton, Manchester, England native became the first Sun Belt player to record back-to-back 25-plus point seasons since 2014-15.

Arndt earns a Preseason All-Conference selection after recording three goals and four assists in 2025, one of four JMU players to amass at least 10 points. Arndt played a pivotal role with the Dukes in the second half of 2025, starting all but two of James Madison's conference matches and winning SBC Offensive Player of the Week in the final week of the regular season after scoring a game-winning goal and an assist at Texas State.

Rajakangas rounds out the Dukes Preseason All-SBC selections as a defender. The Orebro, Sweden native played in all 19 of JMU's matches with 13 starts, contributing to a defense that forced five shutouts in 2025. The sophomore has also contributed to the attack, recording a goal and three assists as a freshman.

2026 Sun Belt Conference Women's Soccer Preseason Awards

Preseason Offensive Player of the Year:
Ginny Lackey, James Madison

Preseason Midfielder of the Year:
Miku Kurihara, Louisiana

Preseason Defensive Player of the Year:
Ashlynn Kulha, Old Dominion

Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year:
Sierra Giorgio, South Alabama

Preseason All-Sun Belt Team
F – Aaliyah Faddoul, Georgia State
F – Carson Glenn, Louisiana
F – Ginny Lackey, James Madison
M – Aleigha Arndt, James Madison
M – Carys Fraser, Georgia State
M – Miku Kurihara, Louisiana
D – Amelia Campanella, South Alabama
D – Libby Holmes, Old Dominion
D – Ashlynn Kulha, Old Dominion
D – Selma Rajakangas, James Madison
GK – Sierra Giorgio, South Alabama

2026 Sun Belt Conference Women's Soccer Preseason Poll

1. James Madison (6) - 182
2. Old Dominion - 173
3. South Alabama (4) - 171
4. Georgia State - 141
5. ULM (3) - 137
6. Marshall (1) - 126
7. Louisiana - 125
8. App State - 99
9. Georgia Southern - 75
10. Southern Miss - 61
11. Coastal Carolina - 60
12. Arkansas State - 53
13. Louisiana Tech - 39
14. Troy - 28

(Parentheses indicate first-place votes)

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