Northwestern University Athletics
Women's Soccer Announces 2026 Schedule
6/4/2026 11:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
EVANSTON, Ill. – Fresh off making its eighth NCAA Tournament appearance in program history in 2025, Northwestern has announced its 2026 women's soccer schedule. The 2026 slate includes 19 games, with 10 games scheduled to take place on the lakefront at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium.
The Wildcats will open up the season with a seven-game non-conference slate before beginning their 12-game Big Ten schedule. NU is slated to take on six teams that made NCAA Tournament appearances last season. Two of Northwestern's non-conference opponents held a No. 1 ranking in the United Soccer Coaches Poll last season (Tennessee and Virginia).
After an exhibition contest at 2025 ACC Tournament runner-up Notre Dame, Northwestern will lift the curtain on its 2026 season with a challenging non-conference battle at Virginia on Aug. 12. This marks the sixth-straight year that the Wildcats have opened their season away from home.
The 'Cats will open the home slate with a trio of matches at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium, taking on Syracuse (Aug. 20), before hosting Denver (Aug. 23) and Illinois State (Aug. 27).
NU will trek to Indianapolis to take on Butler (Aug. 30) before hosting Loyola Chicago (Sept. 3). The Wildcats will close out non-conference play with a road trip to Knoxville to take on Tennessee (Sept. 6).
Northwestern opens up Big Ten play on Sept. 10 when it plays host to Michigan, before making trips to Wisconsin (Sept. 13) and Minnesota (Sept. 20). The Wildcats will host Oregon (Sept. 24) and Indiana (Sept. 27), before road matches at Ohio State (Oct. 3), Rutgers (Oct. 8) and Maryland (Oct. 11).
The 'Cats will take on USC in a rematch of the First Round of the 2025 Big Ten Tournament on Oct. 17 in Evanston. NU's final road trip of the regular season is scheduled for Oct. 22, when it makes the short trip to take on in-state rival Illinois.
Northwestern will close out the regular season with a two-game home stint, hosting Purdue (Oct. 25) and Michigan State (Oct. 30) to end the 2026 regular season.
The 'Cats return 76.9% (20-of-26) of their goalscoring production from 2025. Kennedy Roesch, the second United Soccer Coaches All-American in program history, will look to build on a 10-goal, 23-point sophomore campaign. Liz Cardwell, NU's 2025 assists leader with four helpers, aims to take a leap in her second year with the program.
Head coach Michael Moynihan will have plenty of familiarity in his team sheet, with 84.4% of the Wildcats' 2025 minutes returning this season. The squad retains its 2025 minutes leader Audrey Alberts, who logged 1,901 minutes in 21 matches. Nyamma Nelson, who posted 10 clean sheets last season, the most by a first-year in program history, also returns for her sophomore season.
The Wildcats will open up the season with a seven-game non-conference slate before beginning their 12-game Big Ten schedule. NU is slated to take on six teams that made NCAA Tournament appearances last season. Two of Northwestern's non-conference opponents held a No. 1 ranking in the United Soccer Coaches Poll last season (Tennessee and Virginia).
After an exhibition contest at 2025 ACC Tournament runner-up Notre Dame, Northwestern will lift the curtain on its 2026 season with a challenging non-conference battle at Virginia on Aug. 12. This marks the sixth-straight year that the Wildcats have opened their season away from home.
The 'Cats will open the home slate with a trio of matches at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium, taking on Syracuse (Aug. 20), before hosting Denver (Aug. 23) and Illinois State (Aug. 27).
NU will trek to Indianapolis to take on Butler (Aug. 30) before hosting Loyola Chicago (Sept. 3). The Wildcats will close out non-conference play with a road trip to Knoxville to take on Tennessee (Sept. 6).
Northwestern opens up Big Ten play on Sept. 10 when it plays host to Michigan, before making trips to Wisconsin (Sept. 13) and Minnesota (Sept. 20). The Wildcats will host Oregon (Sept. 24) and Indiana (Sept. 27), before road matches at Ohio State (Oct. 3), Rutgers (Oct. 8) and Maryland (Oct. 11).
The 'Cats will take on USC in a rematch of the First Round of the 2025 Big Ten Tournament on Oct. 17 in Evanston. NU's final road trip of the regular season is scheduled for Oct. 22, when it makes the short trip to take on in-state rival Illinois.
Northwestern will close out the regular season with a two-game home stint, hosting Purdue (Oct. 25) and Michigan State (Oct. 30) to end the 2026 regular season.
The 'Cats return 76.9% (20-of-26) of their goalscoring production from 2025. Kennedy Roesch, the second United Soccer Coaches All-American in program history, will look to build on a 10-goal, 23-point sophomore campaign. Liz Cardwell, NU's 2025 assists leader with four helpers, aims to take a leap in her second year with the program.
Head coach Michael Moynihan will have plenty of familiarity in his team sheet, with 84.4% of the Wildcats' 2025 minutes returning this season. The squad retains its 2025 minutes leader Audrey Alberts, who logged 1,901 minutes in 21 matches. Nyamma Nelson, who posted 10 clean sheets last season, the most by a first-year in program history, also returns for her sophomore season.
Players Mentioned
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