A New Chapter Begins
The 2026 campaign for the Tarleton State Texans opens on the road, as the team travels to face Texas A&M‑Corpus Christi on Wednesday night. It will be the fourth meeting between the two programs and the second time the matchup takes place in Corpus Christi, where a 2024 scoreless draw still lingers in the memory of fans.
Last season the Texans secured a 2‑0 victory at home, with Adelaide Wyrzynski finding the net before the break and Emma Barnes preserving the lead with a shutout that included two crucial saves. That result set the tone for a squad that has been building momentum over the past two years.
Heading the program is new head coach Erik Solberg, whose journey has taken him from Gardner‑Webb to Arkansas Pine‑Bluff, Northwestern Oklahoma State and East Texas Baptist before landing in Stephenville. Solberg brings a staff that includes former Ouachita Baptist chief Chris Lawson and Sadé Boswell, a former Missouri Southern mentor, adding depth to the technical bench.
The roster blends experience with fresh talent. Twelve players return, among them Riley Bloomfield, who has been a constant for five seasons, and Isa Bergeron‑Prejean and Emma Barnes, now in their fourth year in the program. While the team posted 35 goals last season, only three of those came from returning players, highlighting the need for new contributors.
Among the ten newcomers, five are transfers, including Peyton Bryant and Bailey Pottratz, who reunite with Solberg after stints at Gardner‑Webb. Their arrival adds depth to an attack that saw Adelaide Wyrzynski net two goals a year ago, one of them against Corpus Christi, and Zoe Ballard chip in a solitary strike.
Beyond the pitch, the Texans will host a ‘Back 2 School Bash’ during their home opener against UTEP on Thursday, August 20. The event, scheduled for Stephenville, will feature free food, a DJ, and classic campus games such as water pong and cornhole, inviting the community to celebrate the start of the season.