A milestone season begins
The West Virginia University women's soccer program will celebrate three decades of varsity competition as it opens the 2026‑27 season against Dayton on Thursday, August 13, 2026, at 7 p.m. ET in Morgantown.
The opener is more than a regular season start; it marks the first game of a year‑long commemoration of the program’s 30‑year anniversary, a milestone that will be woven into every match.
Rivalry renewed on the field
Dayton, under head coach Eric Golz in his tenth season, arrives as the Atlantic 10 champions with a 15‑4‑3 record from 2025 and a 2‑0 edge over WVU in their last two meetings.
The historic rivalry will be renewed on the field, with Dayton’s top scorers Liv Grenda and Laney Smith — who combined for 12 goals and nine assists last year — poised to challenge the Mountaineers.
Fans who attend the match will have the chance to win a signed WVU jersey through a Back‑to‑School Drive raffle, where each two donated items earn a raffle ticket.
Season tickets for the opening game are priced at $75 plus fees, while a bundled package that includes an exclusive WVU soccer scarf is available for $90 plus fees; single‑game tickets range from $12 for adults online to $8 for youth and seniors at the stadium.
Starting this season, student tickets for Olympic sports will be delivered exclusively through the mobile platform WVUGAME.com, streamlining access for the campus community.
Nikki Izzo‑Brown, now in her 31st year as head coach, brings a career record of 416‑146‑80 and continues to shape the Mountaineers' identity as she enters her third decade at the helm.
The squad returns 16 letterwinners, including seven players who logged over 1,000 minutes in 2025, with Nyema Ingleton leading the group at 1,797 minutes and Abbey Olexa tied for second in goals with six.
Ten newcomers — six freshmen and four transfers — will join the returning core, adding depth as the team looks to build on its recent success.
Beyond the game, the anniversary celebration will be highlighted throughout the season, honoring the program’s past while looking ahead to future achievements.