WAVERLY, Iowa – Wartburg women's soccer is set to kickoff the 2025 regular season this weekend with nonconference matches on the road in Michigan against No. 25 Calvin University and Hope College.
Friday, Aug. 29 | Grand Rapids, Mich. | Zuidema Field
Wartburg at No. 25 Calvin | 3 PM CT |
Live Stream |
Live Stats
Saturday, Aug. 30 | Holland, Mich. | Van Andel Soccer Stadium
Wartburg at Hope | 3 PM CT |
Live Stream |
Live Stats
Four of the Knights' first five matches of the 2025 campaign will be on the road, with the home opener set for Wednesday, Sept. 3 at 6 p.m. against St. Olaf College at Salzwedel Field.
About the Knights
The Knights return key pieces of last season's team, including the two leading goal scorers in 2024 in
Greta Rothe and
Sami Webster. Team captain
Avery Mize will also return to lead the Knights defense following an All-Conference season a year ago. Wartburg returns nine student-athletes who started over 50% of matches last season.
Wartburg will be tested early in the season with a ranked matchup on the road against No. 25 Calvin University as well as other nonconference road tests along the season against Hope, College of Saint Benedict, Saint Mary's University (Minn.), UW-Stevens Point and UW-Eau Claire. The Knights will be at home eight times this season, with four nonconference and four American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) matches. Wartburg will host Senior Day on Saturday, Sept. 27 at 3:30 p.m. as well as host an Alumni Day on Saturday, Oct. 18 at 3:30 p.m.
Last Season
Women's soccer finished the 2024 season with an overall record of 10-7-3 and an A-R-C mark of 5-2-1. The Knights earned the third seed in the A-R-C Tournament, where Wartburg fell to Simpson 1-0 in the semifinals.
Lauren Kirkle, Mize, Rothe and Webster all earned All-Conference honors a season ago. Six Knights earned College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District honors and 10 Knights earned Academic All-Conference honors.
All-Time Series vs Opponents
- Friday will mark the first matchup in program history against Calvin
- Calvin is ranked No. 25 in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll
- Calvin finished 2024 with a 15-3-2 (8-0 MIAA) record in route to a MIAA Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance
- Saturday will mark the second matchup in program history against Hope
- Hope won the first matchup 3-1 in 2023
- Hope finished 2024 with an overall record of 12-4-2 (6-1-1 MIAA) and MIAA runner ups
The Knights Welcome Six Newcomers
Wartburg will have six new faces on the roster in 2025:
Kennedy Gustafson,
Mattie Kompsie,
Finley Rivera,
Alexandria Rocha,
Riley Scott and
Athena Sheets.
Coach Ryan Set for Year Four
"Our focus right now is competing and getting results," Head Coach
Emily Ryan at the annual fall sports media day held at Wartburg College. "We are excited to have the opportunity to get out there on Friday and Saturday against two really good teams."
"We have a great group that is motivated, excited and works extremely hard," said Ryan. "The biggest thing we want to improve on this season is the final execution out on the field and being able to better take advantage of those final opportunities when they present themselves."
A-R-C Preseason Poll
2025 American Rivers Conference
Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll |
| Place |
Team (First-place votes) |
Points |
| 1. |
Loras (7) |
63 |
| 2. |
Simpson (2) |
57 |
| 3. |
Wartburg |
51 |
| 4. |
Univ. of Dubuque |
42 |
| 5. |
Central |
35 |
| 6. |
Luther |
29 |
| 7. |
Nebraska Wesleyan |
22 |
| 8. |
Coe |
14 |
| 9. |
Buena Vista |
11 |
