The Youngstown State women's soccer team will open its 2026 campaign on August 12 at 7 p.m., hosting Pittsburgh at Ambrose Urbanic Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The matchup marks the third meeting between the two programs and serves as the first test of a schedule that features several opponents from major conferences.
A historic rivalry reignites
The series between Youngstown State and Pittsburgh sits at one win apiece after a 1‑0 victory for the Penguins in Youngstown, Ohio, in September 1996, followed by a 2‑0 triumph for Pittsburgh on August 31, 2007. Since then the two sides have traded results, creating a narrative of competitive balance that adds extra intrigue to the upcoming contest.
Building on a breakout 2025 season, the Penguins return 19 letter‑winners and six starters from a squad that captured a program‑best six Horizon League victories and set multiple conference records for points and wins. Among the returnees are senior standouts Sara Felder, Camille Bultel and freshman sensation Kamryn Rosa, each of whom earned All‑Horizon League honors and contributed heavily to the team’s 29 goals, 24 assists and 82 points last year.
Rosa’s 16 points as a freshman earned her the league’s Freshman‑of‑the‑Year award, while Felder’s 11 career goals place her among the program’s all‑time top scorers. The returning core will be joined by 16 newcomers, including five transfers, bolstering depth as the team prepares for a demanding non‑conference slate that includes a later matchup against Indiana.
Coach and the staff view the opener as a litmus test against an Atlantic Coast Conference opponent, a group the Penguins have yet to defeat, but they remain confident that the experience and continuity will translate into another strong campaign.