The Winona State Warriors will open the 2026 women's soccer season at home against UW-Parkside on August 27, 2026, kicking off at 5:00 p.m. The match marks a rematch of the 2025 season opener, a game the Warriors won 2‑1, and it sets the tone for a campaign that aims to improve on last year’s 7‑6‑4 record.
Coming off a ninth‑place finish in the NSIC and a preseason projection that placed them ninth with 104 points, the Warriors are looking to translate early optimism into results. Coach Marier has emphasized a blend of experience and hunger, noting that the squad returns key contributors while cultivating new leadership.
Among those contributors, junior forward Kyleigh Jannisch from Aurora, Illinois, is highlighted as the offensive player to watch after recording five goals and an assist in 17 appearances last season. Defender Annika Groendal, a senior from New Berlin, Wisconsin, anchors the back line, having logged 1,182 minutes across 15 games with an opponent goals‑per‑game average of 1.29.
UW-Parkside arrives as the defending GLIAC Tournament champions, having finished the 2025 campaign with a 10‑8‑2 overall record and a 9‑4‑1 conference slate that earned third place. Coach Brittany Nikolic, in her 12th year at the helm, will rely on returning standout Ava Rizzitano, who led the team with six goals and three assists.
The coaching staff on both sides see the opener as a pivotal moment. Marier’s vision centers on leveraging the team’s depth, while Nikolic aims to build on what she describes as the program’s most successful season to date. The matchup promises a clash of strategies and a test of resilience for two programs eager to stake their claim early in the schedule.
Key Players to Watch
Jannisch’s attacking instincts and Groendal’s defensive steadiness are expected to be focal points, while Rizzitano’s knack for finding space in the final third could prove decisive for the visitors.