As the 2026 NCAA soccer season unfolds, the University of Pittsburgh’s men’s and women’s Division I programs, alongside Duquesne University, Robert Morris University and the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, are deliberately arranging a series of non‑conference matches in September.
Strategic Non‑Conference Schedule
Pitt’s men have already secured a road victory over Penn State and are slated to face Michigan State on September 3 and Penn on September 7, tests that Coach Jay Vidovich says are essential for improving their RPI standing and earning hosting privileges.
The women's team will open with a home game against SMU on September 11 before traveling to Virginia Tech on September 17 and facing Duke on September 27, each contest designed to showcase depth and competitiveness.
Meanwhile, Duquesne’s men will contest a high‑stakes local derby against West Virginia on September 22, while the women begin Atlantic 10 play with a matchup versus Rhode Island on September 19.
Robert Morris University’s squads are also navigating a busy non‑conference slate, with games against Detroit Mercy on September 5 and 9, and a showdown with Oakland on September 19.
The Riverhounds SC, sitting near the top of the USL Championship table after a strong August that yielded only a single loss, will start a crucial September stretch with a home game against Miami FC on September 5, followed by home fixtures against Loudoun United on September 12 and Orange County SC on September 26 as they chase a playoff berth and potential home‑field advantage.
Coaches across the board agree that early results against quality opponents are the most reliable indicator of a team’s standing in the Ratings Percentage Index, the metric that determines NCAA Tournament seeding and the possibility of hosting matches in November.
Because the RPI aggregates wins, losses and strength of schedule, non‑conference games serve as a high‑impact lever for teams seeking to climb the rankings, especially those outside the traditional power‑conference circuit.