BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Coming off a tremendous rookie season in which she was named to the 2025 All-Patriot League Third Team, sophomore defender Helen Bonner of the Navy women's soccer team was named as one of 13 players to the 2026 Preseason All-Patriot League Team on Thursday. She'll be looked upon to continue giving the Mids standout effort from her defensive wing position when the team opens its 2026 campaign next Wednesday, August 12 at home versus Robert Morris.

Breaking training camp last August as a member of Navy's starting lineup, Bonner made an immediate impact and played 84 minutes as part of her squad's 3-0 season-opening victory over Robert Morris on August 14. She rarely left the pitch from there on out with three straight complete game efforts over the next three contests on her way to 10 complete games for the season and a team-high 1,436 minutes of action. Dynamic enough to frequently join the offensive attack, Bonner found the back of the net three different times with goals against Sacred Heart (Aug. 31), Boston University (Sept. 20) and at Bucknell (Oct. 19) to go along with an assist against the Terriers in the Mids' 3-1 win over the eventual regular season league champion. At the conclusion of her freshman campaign she was voted to the All-Patriot League Third Team. Bonner and her fellow Navy classmate Jessica Black were two of just four total freshmen to earn All-Patriot League distinction in 2025.

Also announced on Thursday was the 2026 Patriot League Preseason Poll. In a survey of the league's 10 coaches, Navy was picked sixth with 41 voting points, just two behind fifth-place Holy Cross. The Mids head into the program's 34th campaign in search of their 11th Patriot League regular season title and 27th Patriot League Tournament appearance under the leadership of Carin Gabarra. In 2025, Navy finished the year 9-6-4 with a 2-3-4 mark in conference play that left them just one point out of the postseason tournament. The program brings back five of its top-seven goal scorers and nine of 11 starters, while looking to incorporate nine talented freshmen.

The 2026 campaign for Navy begins next Wednesday with a 5 p.m. home tilt versus Robert Morris. That game is the first of six home non-conference games to be played at the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility during the month of August.


2026 Patriot League Women's Soccer Preseason Poll
1. Army West Point, 77 (6 first-place votes)
2. Boston University, 76 (4 first-place votes)
3. Colgate, 62
4. Loyola Maryland, 51
5. Holy Cross, 43
6. Navy, 41
t-7. Bucknell, 35
t-7. Lafayette, 35
9. American, 16
10. Lehigh, 14

2026 Patriot League Preseason Women's Soccer Major Awards
Preseason Forward of the Year – Bella Conti, Army West Point, Jr., F
Preseason Midfielder of the Year – Nadia Zaffanella, Lafayette, Sr., M
Preseason Defender of the Year - Helene Tyburczy, Boston University, Gr., D
Goalkeeper of the Year – Ella Poppinga, Colgate, Sr., GK

2026 Preseason All-Patriot League Women's Soccer Team*
Bella Conti, Army West Point, Jr., F
Sophia Henry, Army West Point, So., F
Olivia Avellar, Boston University, Jr., F
Katie Connell, Bucknell, Jr., F
Josie Tunney, Colgate, Jr., F
Grace Pohlidal, Army West Point, Jr., M
Ciara Kennedy, Boston University, Sr., M
Nadia Zaffanella, Lafayette, Sr., M
Daisy West, Army West Point, Jr., D
Helene Tyburczy, Boston University, Gr., D
Karenna Beckstein, Holy Cross, Sr., D
Helen Bonner, Navy, So., D
Ella Poppinga, Colgate, Sr., GK
Note: Student-athletes are listed by positions; then alphabetically by institution
*Due to a tie in voting, there are 13 members on the Preseason All-Patriot League Women's Soccer Team