The University of Nebraska at Kearney’s women’s soccer program enters the upcoming season with lofty ambitions, targeting both the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) championship and a berth in the NCAA tournament.
Testing Against Top Opponents
In recent preseason work, the Lopers hosted a high‑intensity scrimmage against Augustana, an NAIA powerhouse that has not endured a losing season since 2012 and reached the NCAA tournament as recently as 2021. The encounter exposed UNK to a physical, dominant style of play that forced the team to reassess its defensive organization.
A second exhibition against Hastings College ended in a 0‑0 stalemate, offering another chance to fine‑tune tactics against a different brand of intensity.
Learning From the Front Lines
Head coach Rob Breton emphasized the value of those battles, noting that confronting physically imposing opponents provides the best classroom for improving defensive strategies and learning how to compete at a higher level.
The cumulative experience from the scrimmages has helped the squad identify weaknesses, build chemistry, and develop a more resilient game plan as they look ahead to their official season opener against Rockhurst University next Friday.