BURNSVILLE, Minn. — The NSIC released its 2026 Preseason Coaches' Poll Thursday morning, the Golden Bears were picked to finish sixth. Junior infielder Alexis Monty was tabbed as the Golden Bears Player to Watch and Emmy Bowne was picked as the Pitcher to Watch ahead of the 2026 season. 

Concordia received 148 points in the poll, coming in behind fifth place St. Cloud State with 175 points and ahead of Wayne State with 138 points in seventh place. Augustana was picked to finish first in the poll for the seventh consecutive season, receiving 221 points and 12 first place votes. Winona State was picked to finish second with 202 points and four first-place votes.

NSIC coaches rank each team from one to 14 with a first-place vote receiving 14 points, second place 13, third place 12 etc. Coaches do not rank their own team or vote for their own players in the preseason poll. 

The Golden Bears return eight starters from last year's team, with Sydney Pelzer, Rachel Novak and Erica McCullough graduating, adding five freshmen to the mix this season. 

Last season the Golden Bears finished sixth in the NSIC with a 25-29 overall record and a 17-11 record in conference play, falling in the first round of the NSIC Tournament to Winona State.

"We're excited about the upcoming season to see our young team continue to progress and take strides toward a successful 2026 campaign." Head coach Bob Bartel said. "We took some lumps early last year with an extremely young team playing a tough schedule, but I felt we were playing our best softball at year's end. We expect to continue that at the beginning of this season."

Alexis Monty was named the Golden Bears Player to Watch after posting a .339 batting average, .397 on-base percentage and .552 slugging percentage last season. The sophomore infielder recorded 59 hits, with 13 doubles, 3 triples, 6 home runs and 31 RBI. Monty led the team with 46 runs scored and 21 stolen bases, earning All-NSIC Second Team Honors and being named to the All-NSIC Academic Team of Excellence. 

In her freshman campaign, Monty batted .486 with a .536 on-base percentage breaking the single-season school record in both categories to earn NSIC First team, NFCA All-Region and NFCA Third Team All-American Honors. 

"Alexis has put together two great campaigns for CSP and we look for her to continue that trend," Bartel said. "We'll be moving Alexis to shortstop this year, adding more responsibility on the defensive side. She's definitely ready for that challenge and we believe she'll continue to be a terror on the offensive side. We look for Alexis to continue to lead by example, in both games and at practice as she continues her fabulous career on the field and in the classroom." 

The Golden Bears two of their three starters from last season, with the graduation of Erica McCullough, Tatum Dunlavy and Emmy Bowne remain from last season's starting staff. 

Bowne was selected as CSP's Pitcher to Watch heading into the 2026 season. The junior started 17 games in the circle last season, posting a 9-11 record with a 3.53 ERA and 1.43 WHIP in 125.0 innings of work. The junior tossed 8 complete games and three complete game shoutouts, striking out 53 batters, while earning NSIC All-Academic honors. 

"We're looking for Emmy to have her best season yet as she continues to progress through her career," Bartel said. "Her first year was cut short due to injury but she was able to comeback in her second year to lead us in most every pitching category. Her determination to get better and win games will help us every time she's in the circle. Emmy takes that determination into the classroom as well." 

Concordia-St. Paul gets its season underway Friday, Feb. 6 with a doubleheader in St. Cloud at the Kelly Laas Memorial Tournament hosted by St. Cloud State. The Golden Bears take on the Bemidji State Beavers at 10 a.m. in the Husky Dome. The afternoon slate will see CSP take on Southwest Minnesota State at noon. 

On Saturday, Feb. 7, the Golden Bears play the Mustangs once more with another 12 p.m. start time, wapping up the tournament later that day with a 4 p.m. game against St. Cloud State. 

The Golden Bears will play 19 out of conference games before the 28 game NSIC slate starts on Saturday, March 21. 

The 2026 NSIC Softball Tournament will take place over four days at Bowden Field in Sioux Falls, South Dakota hosted by Augustana University. The tournament will be a 10-team single elimination format and will be streamed on the NSIC Network with single game access or a tournament pass available for purchase.