NEW HAVEN, Conn. (January 28, 2026) – Wilmington University has been predicted to finish in first place in the 2026 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference softball standings, according to the results of the sport’s CACC Preseason Coaches Poll released today by Commissioner Dan Mara.
Wilmington (36-19, 17-5 CACC in 2025) won its third consecutive CACC championship last season. The Wildcats then advanced to the NCAA Division II East Super-Regional Championship series for the fourth straight season. Wilmington is ranked No. 21 in the 2026 national preseason D-II coaches’ poll.
The Wildcats received 8 of 10 first-place votes in the CACC poll and 80 total points. The University of Bridgeport (33-16, 19-3), the 2025 CACC regular-season champion and an NCAA Tournament participant, was chosen for second place with 66 points. Thomas Jefferson University collected a first-place vote and was picked for third place with 59 points, followed by the 56 points of fourth-place Holy Family University.
The next four positions in the poll went to, respectively, Caldwell University (5th, 52 points), Goldey-Beacom College (6th, 49), Felician University (7th, 36) and Dominican University New York (8th, 22). Goldey-Beacom, which reached the 2025 NCAA Tournament, also received the final first-place vote. Chestnut Hill College was slotted into the ninth position with 17 points, followed by Post University (13).
The regular season begins during the weekend of February 6-8 with three teams scheduled to compete. All 10 CACC teams will have started their 2026 campaign by March 6, with conference action slated to commence on Saturday, March 21.
At season’s end, the top eight teams in the standings will qualify for the CACC Championship tournament. Four opening round, best-of-three series will be held on May 2-3 at campus sites. The four-team double-elimination segment will follow on May 7-9. The CACC champion will automatically qualify for the 2026 NCAA Division II East Region Championship.
2026 CACC SOFTBALL PRESEASON COACHES POLL
(First Place Votes in Parentheses)
| Rank |
Team |
Points |
| 1. |
Wilmington University (8) |
80 |
| 2. |
University of Bridgeport |
66 |
| 3. |
Thomas Jefferson University (1) |
59 |
| 4. |
Holy Family University |
56 |
| 5. |
Caldwell University |
52 |
| 6. |
Goldey-Beacom College (1) |
49 |
| 7. |
Felician University |
36 |
| 8. |
Dominican University New York |
22 |
| 9. |
Chestnut Hill College |
17 |
| 10. |
Post University |
13 |
Founded in 1961, the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference has been affiliated with NCAA Division II for 20 years. Conference institutions compete for championships in 17 sports – seven for men, nine for women, and one co-ed. The CACC contains 11 full members in Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. Membership includes the University of Bridgeport, Caldwell University, Chestnut Hill College, Dominican University New York, Felician University, Georgian Court University, Goldey-Beacom College, Holy Family University, Post University, Thomas Jefferson University, and Wilmington University.