NEW ORLEANS | Sierra Giorgio was named the Sun Belt Conference Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year on Wednesday as announced by the league office. Giorgio and Amelia Campanella were also selected to the Sun Belt's preseason all-league squad. 

South Alabama, who captured the SBC West Division championship a year ago, was also predicted by the league coaches to finish third with 171 points, but did receive four first-place votes. 

Giorgio, the reigning Goalkeeper of the Year, also earned First-Team all-SBC honors last fall, after setting the single-season, program record save percentage (.866). She finished the season ranking ninth in the nation in the category and led the Sun Belt in save percentage and goals-against average (.588). Giorgio also tallied a league-best nine shutouts between the pipes, recording 58 saves and only nine goals-against.

With Giorgio in goal, the Jags ranked seventh in the nation in shutout percentage (.611), 16th in goals-against average (.659) and 30th in save percentage (.840), leading the Sun Belt. She was named Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 21.

The preseason honor is the second for Giorgio as she was also selected to the Goalkeeper to Watch list by the United Soccer, who also earned Second-Team all-Southeast Region honors from the organization.

Earlier this month, Campanella was selected as a Defender to Watch by the United Soccer Coaches. Last fall, Campanella was named to the league's all-conference third team, and earned Fourth-Team all-Southeast Region accolades from the United Soccer Coaches. She also led a back line that ranked nationally in shutout percentage (seventh, .611) and goals-against average (16th, .659).

Campanella was the only Jag to start every match, tallying a team-high 1,608 minutes of action. She recorded one assist, a long ball against Coastal Carolina on Sept. 18.

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

The Jags enter the 2026 slate after clinching a Sun Belt West Division Championship, earning a 10-4-4 mark for the year, and are set to face William Carey later on tonight in their first of two exhibition matches. Kickoff versus the Crusaders is set for 7 p.m. at Danny Owens Field in Hattiesburg, Miss.
    
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