Photo by: Paige Holland
Morgan earns preseason All-CUSA nod
8/6/2026 12:00:00 PM | Soccer
DALLAS — On the eve of the 2026 season, the Sam Houston soccer team had a star player tabbed to the preseason All-Conference USA squad as the league also announced the predicted order of finish on Thursday morning.
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Sophomore midfielder Ellie Morgan joins 10 other student-athletes on the preseason team. Last season, she emerged as one of the top freshmen in Conference USA, making an immediate impact in the Bearkat attack.
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She finished with four goals, one assist and nine points while appearing in all 17 matches. Three of her four goals were game winners, including decisive conference victories over Louisiana Tech and Missouri State, demonstrating her ability to perform in the biggest moments.
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Morgan also added 17 shots and eight shots on goal while establishing herself as one of the league's premier young midfielders on the way to being named to the CUSA All-Freshman team as a freshman in 2025.
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The Bearkats are predicted to finish seventh in the standings this season by the league's head coaches with 39 points. Liberty, which received nine first-place votes, has been picked to repeat as CUSA champions followed by Missouri State, Delaware (one first-place nod), WKU, FIU and Middle Tennessee.
2026 CUSA Preseason Awards
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Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Halle Engle, Liberty
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Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Lauren Littleton, Liberty
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Preseason All-Conference Team
GK: Peyton Huber, Liberty
D: Sallie Garner, Liberty
D: Lauren Littleton, Liberty
D: Abby Wiedermann, WKU
MF: Gabby Riley, Delaware
MF: Avenley Monteith, Liberty
MF: Ellie Morgan, Sam Houston
MF: Georgia Liapis, WKU
F: Adiat Olaogun-Dickson, Delaware
F: Halle Engle, Liberty
F: Makenna Egan, WKU
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Preseason Poll (first-place votes)
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Sophomore midfielder Ellie Morgan joins 10 other student-athletes on the preseason team. Last season, she emerged as one of the top freshmen in Conference USA, making an immediate impact in the Bearkat attack.
Â
She finished with four goals, one assist and nine points while appearing in all 17 matches. Three of her four goals were game winners, including decisive conference victories over Louisiana Tech and Missouri State, demonstrating her ability to perform in the biggest moments.
Â
Morgan also added 17 shots and eight shots on goal while establishing herself as one of the league's premier young midfielders on the way to being named to the CUSA All-Freshman team as a freshman in 2025.
Â
The Bearkats are predicted to finish seventh in the standings this season by the league's head coaches with 39 points. Liberty, which received nine first-place votes, has been picked to repeat as CUSA champions followed by Missouri State, Delaware (one first-place nod), WKU, FIU and Middle Tennessee.
2026 CUSA Preseason Awards
Â
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Halle Engle, Liberty
Â
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Lauren Littleton, Liberty
Â
Preseason All-Conference Team
GK: Peyton Huber, Liberty
D: Sallie Garner, Liberty
D: Lauren Littleton, Liberty
D: Abby Wiedermann, WKU
MF: Gabby Riley, Delaware
MF: Avenley Monteith, Liberty
MF: Ellie Morgan, Sam Houston
MF: Georgia Liapis, WKU
F: Adiat Olaogun-Dickson, Delaware
F: Halle Engle, Liberty
F: Makenna Egan, WKU
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Preseason Poll (first-place votes)
- Liberty (9)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 81 points
- Missouri State               62 points
- Delaware (1)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 61 points
- WKUÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 55 points
- FIUÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 52 points
- MTSUÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 46 points
- Sam Houston               39 points
- NM State                          29 points
- Kennesaw State           13 points
- Jax State                           12 points
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Players Mentioned
MD
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