The University of Jamestown’s women’s soccer program stepped onto the NCAA Division II stage for the first time in 2025, finishing the campaign with a 2‑13‑2 overall record and a 2‑11‑2 mark inside the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.
Head coach Nick Becker has been candid about the steep learning curve his squad faced, especially when confronting the athleticism and physicality of NSIC opponents. He pointed to the need for greater speed, more direct play and a stronger aerial presence as the team looks to close the gap.
A Season of Growth
Among the returning core, midfielder Vega Canada emerged as the team’s leading scorer, netting three goals across all 17 matches, while forward Bre Oettle returned from a torn ACL sustained in the opening conference game. Junior midfielder Kyah Gabel earned second‑team All‑NSIC honors and logged a team‑high 1,456 minutes, underscoring her durability.
Coach Becker highlighted possession as a relative strength but stressed that the squad must translate that into faster transitions and more aggressive defending. He also noted that players such as Lala Ledward and Sienna Latta showed they were physically ready for the conference’s direct style of play.
Looking Ahead
Despite being placed 14th out of 16 in the NSIC preseason coaches’ poll, Becker set an ambitious target: a top‑half finish in 2026. He said the focus will be on staying healthy, adapting to the league’s physical demands and building on the experience gained by the 15 freshmen who saw action this season.
The 2026 schedule promises matchups against Roosevelt University, Davenport University, Winona State and several other conference rivals, giving the team ample opportunity to test its improvements. Becker believes that with a healthier roster and a clearer tactical identity, the program can translate its developmental progress into tangible results on the scoreboard.