Boise State University’s Broncos soccer squad is set to open its 2026 campaign with a two‑game swing through Texas, beginning on August 20 against SMU before facing Texas Tech on August 23.
The team arrives riding a program‑record 16‑match unbeaten streak, the longest active run in the nation, and sits among just two Pac‑12 programs yet to taste defeat this season.
A historic unbeaten run
Boise State’s perfect start is underscored by a 22‑5‑6 record over its last nine home outings and a 62.1 % return of last season’s scoring output, figures that have helped head coach Jim Thomas secure his place among the conference’s most winningest coaches.
Freshman forward Campbell Wilson, a Meridian native and two‑time Idaho Gatorade Player of the Year, has already made a splash, earning Pac‑12 Newcomer of the Week after netting three goals and two assists in her first two collegiate matches. Her back‑to‑back scoring feat marks the first time a Bronco has found the net in consecutive games since 2017.
Wilson’s early impact is complemented by the presence of returning scorer Jillian Anderson, who leads the team’s returning offensive contributors with five goals, and by senior midfielder Kaitlyn Slocum, who earned a spot on the United Soccer Coaches Watch List alongside teammate Ava de Leest, the only Pac‑12 goalkeeper recognized on the national list.
The defensive backbone also sees Ava de Leest and Jillian Anderson highlighted on the watch list, while goaltender Madie Donovan and midfielder Kaitlyn Slocum gained additional exposure in the USL W League over the summer, playing for Sioux Falls City FC and Minnesota Aurora respectively.
Beyond individual accolades, the Broncos boast a strong national profile, with three players — Ava de Leest, Kaitlyn Slocum and Jillian Anderson — named to the United Soccer Coaches Watch List, and the program’s recent Mountain West regular‑season championships adding to the excitement surrounding the upcoming Texas road trip.
Head coach Jim Thomas, now in his 13th season, holds a career record of 141‑80‑31 and ranks second among current Pac‑12 coaches in wins at Boise State, a testament to the program’s sustained excellence under his leadership.
The upcoming matches in Dallas and at Texas Tech will serve as early barometers for a team that aims to extend its unbeaten streak, maintain its top‑tier Pac‑12 standing, and build on a legacy that includes eight 10‑win seasons in the past decade.