The Youngstown State University women's soccer squad is set to welcome Eastern Kentucky to Farmers National Bank Field on August 23, with kickoff scheduled for noon. The contest will be broadcast live on ESPN+, giving fans across the country a chance to follow the Penguins' early-season push.
Coming off a preseason ranking of third in the Horizon League poll — behind Milwaukee, which garnered 142 points — the Penguins are eager to translate that optimism into results. Their slate begins with a home game before a stretch of three consecutive road fixtures, starting with an in‑state showdown at Miami (Ohio) on August 30.
A pivotal home opener
Key contributors such as senior forward Autumn Fairfax, who found the net for the first time this season in a 1‑1 draw with Kent State on August 20, and veteran scorers Sara Felder and sophomore Kamryn Rosa, who have combined for more than a dozen career goals, will be crucial to the team's attack.
Eastern Kentucky arrives with a 1‑1 record after a 3‑0 loss to Cincinnati and a 5‑0 victory over Cleveland State. The Colonels have distributed goal‑scoring across five players this year, and they will be looking to avenge a 1‑0 defeat from September 8, 2024, when the two sides last met.
Beyond the immediate matchup, the game marks the second meeting between the programs and underscores a broader non‑conference schedule that tests the Penguins against a variety of opponents. As the season unfolds, the team hopes to leverage its depth and experience to climb the league standings.