DAYTON – The University of Dayton women's soccer team kicks off the 2026 campaign with a pair of exhibitions, hosting Eastern Kentucky on Wednesday, Aug. 5, and traveling to Indiana to take on the Hoosiers on Saturday, Aug. 8.
 
The Flyers' Wednesday night debut against the Colonels will begin at 7 p.m. The two sides will play three thirty-minute periods and is open to the public.
 
Dayton returns five starters from the 2025 Atlantic 10 Championship squad, including reigning A-10 Midfielder of the Year Liv Grenda. Four of UD's top five point scorers from last year's squad return for this season, including team-leader junior Laney Smith, who had six goals and five assists a season ago. Redshirt junior Olivia Baca (4 goals, 2 assists, 10 points) and junior Lauryn Contini (3 goals, 3 assists, 9 points) also return. Two members of the Flyers' defense that registered 15 shutouts and allowed just 12 goals last season, Lauren fields and Bre Mendoza, are back for their junior seasons. Also back are A-10 All-Rookie team members Ky Hau-Golden, Emery Newlin and Caroline Schork.
 
UD welcomed 11 new players to the roster for the 2026 season, five freshman and six transfer student-athletes. The Flyers reported to campus on Monday, July 20 and pre-season training has been underway ever since.
 
Dayton kicks off its 43rd season of women's soccer on the road, traveling to Morgantown, W. Va. to take on West Virginia University on Thursday, Aug. 12 at 7 p.m. at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium. The Flyers' first regular season match at the friendly confines of Baujan Field will come Sunday, Aug. 16 against Toledo at 1 p.m.
 
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