North Attleboro, Mass. – Adelphi University's softball program was slotted sixth in the 2025 Northeast 10 Preseason Coaches Poll, as announced by the conference on Thursday afternoon.

The Panthers' sixth-place finish was six votes behind both Bentley University and Franklin Pierce University, and nine votes ahead of Saint Anselm College. In total, the Brown and Gold received 46 votes. Defending champions Pace University led the poll with 78 votes, followed by Southern New Hampshire University (65) and Assumption University (61).

A new era of Adelphi softball began last season with head coach Katie Apostolopoulos taking over the reins. The Panthers finished the 2024 campaign with a 24–27 record and entered the NE10 Softball Championship Tournament as the No. 7 seed and one of the final teams to qualify. Adelphi went on a memorable postseason run, upsetting second-seeded Saint Anselm in two straight games. The hot streak continued with a dominant win over Assumption before the Panthers were eliminated as one of the final three teams remaining in the double-elimination tournament.

Apostolopoulos' squad will return several key contributors from last season, including the entire pitching staff featuring team MVP Lily Kenney, Jenna Plue, and two-way contributor Tori Parente. The lineup also welcomes back Maddy Moore, who hit over .300 as a freshman, along with Ellen Tarjan at the hot corner. The duo combined for six home runs and 40 RBIs a season ago.

Joining the Brown and Gold this season are five freshmen looking to make an immediate impact: Jaylen Wright, Kate Meyer, Emma Priest, Faith Wagner, and Marcella Polvere.

The Panthers' 2026 campaign opens on Tuesday, Feb. 24, when Adelphi travels to Wilmington University (Del.), with first pitch scheduled for 2:30 p.m.