The RIT women's soccer program is gearing up for the first match of the 2026 season, a home showdown against SUNY Geneseo scheduled for September 1 at Judson Stadium, a state‑of‑the‑art facility that opened earlier this summer and accommodates just over a thousand spectators.
A New Chapter at Judson Stadium
The venue, built to showcase the university's growing soccer tradition, features modern training rooms and a synthetic turf surface, setting a fresh backdrop for a team that reached the Liberty League championship game in each of the past three years.
In the 2025 campaign the Tigers fought their way to the league final for the third consecutive meeting, only to see a 1‑0 defeat at the hands of Vassar, a result that has fueled determination heading into the new season.
Honors and Legacy
Senior forward Elena Onodera capped her collegiate career with selections to the Liberty League First‑Team and the United Soccer Coaches All‑Region First‑Team, while also holding the program’s all‑time records for points (60) and goals (24). Her departure leaves a sizable offensive void.
Defensively, the squad retains experienced stalwarts Neena Damodaran and Lindsay Ford, both named to the Liberty League Second‑Team, and adds junior Avery Donnelly, who has already logged 12 appearances as the new starting goalkeeper.
The roster also welcomes nine first‑year players and transfer Kiera Dall, while veterans Nicole Joffe and Sidona Hackl‑Gerenstein are set to anchor the back line after starting every postseason game last year.
Schedule and Outlook
The 2026 slate opens with home matches against Geneseo, Allegheny, St. John Fisher and Ohio Northern before conference road trips to Clarkson, RPI, Vassar, St. Lawrence, Skidmore, William Smith, Union, Ithaca and Bard.
Each contest will be a stepping stone toward the Liberty League Tournament in early November, where the champion will earn an automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Tournament, a goal the team has pursued relentlessly.