Under head coach Chris Chamides, the LMU women's soccer program has cemented a strong foundation, posting 17 wins over the last two seasons and establishing a competitive culture that set the stage for the upcoming campaign.
The 2026 roster reflects a calculated blend of continuity and renewal, showcasing 18 returning letterwinners alongside five transfer additions and a fresh cohort of seven freshmen eager to make an immediate impact.
Goalkeeper Myley Markley, a standout freshman from Homestead High School, arrives with a decorated high school career that includes three varsity letters and four First Team All‑SCVAL De Anza League honors, bringing poise and experience to the back line.
Veteran net‑minder JJ Hoover, who has started 46 games over three seasons, posted a .806 save percentage and recorded 12 clean sheets last year, providing stability and confidence between the posts.
Midfielder Taylor Person contributed an assist on the game‑winning goal against UC Santa Barbara and celebrated her first collegiate goal versus Columbia, underscoring her growing influence in the attacking third.
Defensive reinforcements include Norway’s Ane Nordby‑Joergensen, a Toppserien title‑winner with over 30 youth caps, and redshirt junior Emma Gustad Myklebust, who has started every match in the past season and already logged five assists and three goals, one of which was a decisive strike against UC Riverside.
Senior defender Izzy Smith, recognized for her precise crossing and penalty‑saving deliveries, started 16 of 17 games last year and will anchor a back line that aims to tighten up against formidable opponents.
The season opens with an exhibition match against UCLA on August 5, followed by the regular‑season debut at UC Santa Barbara on August 12, giving the team early tests against familiar West Coast rivals as they fine‑tune their chemistry.
Coach Chamides emphasizes that the mix of seasoned leadership and youthful energy should sharpen both defensive solidity and attacking creativity, positioning the Lions to contend for top honors in the upcoming slate.