WAVERLY, Iowa --- Women's soccer is set to open the 2026 season this week with three nonconference matches, starting on the road Tuesday, Sept. 1 against St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn. beginning at 12:30 p.m.
 
The Knights will finish the opening week of competition with their home opener on Saturday, Sept. 5 at 3 p.m. against the College of Saint Benedict before hitting the road again on Monday, Sept. 7 against Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, Ill. at 3 p.m.
 
Tuesday, Sept. 1 | Northfield, Minn. | Rolf Melby Field
Wartburg at St. Olaf | 12:30 PM CT | Live Stream | Live Stats


Saturday, Sept. 5 | Waverly, Iowa | Salzwedel Field
Saint Benedict at Wartburg | 3 PM CT | Live Stream | Live Stats


Monday, Sept. 7 | Bloomington, Ill. |Neis Field
Wartburg at Ill. Wesleyan | 3 PM CT | Live Stream | Live Stats
 
All-Time Series

• St. Olaf
  • Tuesday will mark the 21^st all-time meeting between these programs (first meeting in 1990)
  • Wartburg holds a slight edge in the series at 10-9-1
  • St. Olaf has won the last three matchups and the Oles hold a 5-2-1 record at home in the series
• Saint Benedict
  • Saturday is set to be the 18^th meeting all time between CSB and Wartburg (first meeting in 1989)
  • The Knights have an 8-6-3 overall record against the Bennies
  • Wartburg is 5-1-2 all-time at home against CSB and won last year's contest 2-1 in St. Joseph, Minn.
• Illinois Wesleyan
  • Monday will mark the sixth matchup all time between these teams
  • Wartburg owns a 4-1 series record over the Titans
    • IWU won last year's contest 2-1 in Waverly
  • The Knights are 1-0 against IWU in Bloomington, Ill. with the only meeting coming in 2022

 
A-R-C Preseason Poll
1. Loras College - 49 (7)
2. University of Dubuque - 42
3. Simpson College - 38
4. Wartburg College - 28
5. Central College - 27
6. Nebraska Wesleyan University - 20
7. Buena Vista University - 11
8. Coe College - 9

"The A-R-C is filled with a lot of talent again this year, and the 2026 season should be another competitive one. We are excited to get rolling!" - Emily Ryan, Head Coach

 
Wartburg's Fall Media Day (Kenna Hemann, Emily Ryan and Lindsey Overmann)

 
Wartburg

• The Knights return five players that started 17 or more matches for the Knights in 2025:
  • Kenna Hemann, Tulla Jensen, Paige Lienhard, Lindsey Overmann and Athena Sheets
• Sheets is the top offensive returner from 2025 as she logged eight points last season after two goals and four assists
• Jensen totaled 93 saves and two shutouts in 1,477 minutes of play in 2025 over 18 matches played at goalkeeper for the Knights
• The Knights welcome 13 newcomers to this year's roster:
  • Lillian Anderson, Quinlin Cole, Ava Gibson, Malea Haraldson, Taylor Herman, Bella Hruska, Lupita Lopez, Tessa Poppen, Addie Pospisil, Hayley Potter, Zaley Streeper, Ella Turner and Kirsten Yoakum are all first-year additions to the 2026 roster

 
A Quick Look at This Week's Opponents
St. Olaf

• Finished the 2025 season with an overall record of 15-3-2 and a MIAC record of 8-1-2
  • Closed the season with a semifinal loss to Carleton in the MIAC Playoffs
• The Oles outscored opponents 49-11 last season (+38)
• St. Olaf returns two of their top three offensive threats from 2025 with Emily Johnson (33 pts – 15 goals, three assists) and Wren VanDeWalker (15 pts – four goals, seven assists)
• Charlotte Percy returns for the Oles at goalkeeper after starting 18/20 matches a season ago and logging 33 saves with nine shutouts

Saint Benedict

• Ended the 2025 season with an overall record of 7-11 and a MIAC record of 5-6
  • Did not qualify for the MIAC playoffs
• The Bennies were outscored 32-22 last season (-10)
• CSB returns one of its top two offensive threats from last season in Avery Soli (12 pts – five goals, two assists)
• Both Claire McGrath (60 saves) and Rhianna Anya (63 saves) both started eight matches at goalkeeper last season and will return to the team in 2026

Illinois Wesleyan

• Closed the 2025 season with an overall record of 9-7-3 overall and 4-3-1 in CCIW play
  • Fell in the opening round of the CCIW Tournament
• IWU was +2 in goal differential last season with 37 goals scored and 35 allowed
• 4/5 Titans with 10+ points recorded in 2025 return to the 2026 roster, including the two leading scorers in Liza Wiley (21 pts – seven goals, seven assists) and Keira Robinson (15 pts – seven goals, one assist)
• Vanessa Gray returns in net for the Titans after starting 16/19 matches a season ago and logging 79 saves with three shutouts