DAYTON – The University of Dayton women's soccer team opens the 2026 home campaign with a 1 p.m. match against the University of Toledo on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Baujan Field.

The match will be broadcast on ESPN+ with veteran broadcasters Alex Mikos and Ian Richardson on the call.

LAST TIME OUT
The Flyers surrendered a pair of goals in the second half to fall 2-0 at the hands of No. 20 West Virginia to open the 2026 season on Thursday night.

The Mountaineers struck for their first tally under a minute into the second half, then scored again off a corner piece in the 63rd minute.
 
UD finished the match with five shots, including a pair on goal by junior Laney Smith. WVU notched 11 total shots with junior keeper Avery Strohecker stopping three.
 
COLLEGIATE DEBUTS
Four Flyer freshmen made their collegiate debut in the Flyers' contest at No. 20 West Virginia, with Reese Gallagher and Kamryn Hoffman earning starts. Kelly McCandless and Delaney Rollins also saw the pitch in their first game for UD.
 
FULL 90 
A pair of Flyers played the full 90 minutes in the 2026 opener: sophomore Claire Mikola and senior transfer Eva Schreiber.
 
NEW FACES IN NEW PLACES
Dayton brought in 11 new student-athletes for the 2026 campaign, including six transfers and five freshmen.
 
The transfers include: Kasey Cannistraro (GK - Iowa State), Elise Canter (MF - Wright State), Millie Cluxton (MF - College of Charleston), Sophia Doumos (D - Seminole State), Eva Schreiber (D - Saint Louis) and Avery Strohecker (GK - Seton Hall).
 
The freshman are: Reese Gallagher (F), Kamryn Hoffman (D), Kelly McCandless (MF), Delaney Rollins (MF), and Campbell Wood (MF).
 
RETURNING FIREPOWER
Despite losing over half of its starting lineup from last season's championship team, Dayton returns plenty of firepower for the 2026 campaign. Four of the Flyers top five scorers from a season ago return, led by junior forward Laney Smith (17 points - six goals, five assists). Reigning A10 Midfielder of the Year Liv Grenda is set to return after finishing the 2025 campaign with 16 points (six goals, four assists), while Olivia Baca (10 points, four goals, two assists) and Lauryn Contini (nine points, three goals, three assists).
 
A10 PRESEASON POLL
The Flyers were picked to repeat as champions of the Atlantic 10 Conference in the league's annual Preseason Poll this week.
 
The A10 Preseason Poll and Preseason All-Conference team, announced Monday morning, are voted on by the league's head coaches. Dayton, who went 10-0 in the league a season ago and won both the Atlantic 10 regular season and tournament Championships, earned 188 points and nine first-place votes.
 
ALL-ATLANTIC 10 PRESEASON TEAM
UD was well represented on the Atlantic 10's preseason All-Conference team, with the junior quartet of Lauryn Contini, Liv Grenda, Bre Mendoza and Laney Smith earning the nod from the league's coaches.
 
Contini made 19 starts in her first season as a Flyer, totaling nine points thanks to three goals and three assists.
 
Grenda was named the A10 Midfielder of the Year after registering 16 points on a team-high six goals and four assists. The Perkasi, Pa. native was also named All-Atlantic 10 first team and A10 All-Academic team.
 
Mendoza, who earned All-A10 second team honors last season, was a key member of a Flyers' defense that posted 15 shutouts and allowed just 12 goals all season.
 
Smith was a first team All-Conference member last season after scoring six goals and adding five assist for 17 total points.
 
FLYER LEGACY - 30 YEARS IN THE MAKING
2026 marks two milestones for the UD women's soccer program, most notably it is the 30th anniversary of the first championship in program history.
 
The 1996 Flyers, in just their second year in the Atlantic 10, defeated La Salle (3-1), Fordham (1-0), and Rhode Island (0-0, 5-4 PKs) to lead UD to its inaugural championship.
 
Fast forward to present day - no other A10 program matches Dayton when it comes to league titles, leading the conference in both regular season (12) and tournament championships (11).
 
UP NEXT
Dayton continues its four-match homestand in the friendly confines of Baujan Field on Thursday, Aug. 20 when the Flyers welcome Kentucky to the Gem City for a 7 p.m. match.
 

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