WKU Women’s Soccer kicks off its 2025-26 season on Thursday, heading to Athens, Ohio, to take on the Ohio Bobcats with a roster of 11 newcomers and 15 returners.
The Hilltoppers were ranked ninth in the CUSA preseason polls, in the bottom four of the conference.
“[Conference USA] It’s a really good soccer conference top to bottom,” Head Coach Jason Neidell said at an Aug. 8 press conference. “Travelling in this league is difficult. So trying to get those road wins are extra challenging.”
WKU will begin the season on the road with two games in Ohio against the Bobcats and Rio Grande, before returning to Bowling Green for its home opener on Aug. 21 against Jackson State. Conference play begins on Sept. 21 against Kennesaw State at the WKU Soccer Complex.
“I think our new players have mixed really well,” redshirt senior goalkeeper Maddie Davis said. “They bring newness to the team, and I think it’s a good newness.”
The incoming class features eight freshmen and three transfers, as well as two new assistant coaches, Antonio La Gamba and Emma Tompkins.
Redshirt junior Mia Riddick, a transfer from Arkansas, did not see playing time with the Razorbacks in 2024. Graduate student forward Danielle Lewin arrives from the University of Georgia, where she was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team in 2021. Sophomore Torrie Grant-Clavijo transferred in from St. Bonaventure after playing in all 16 games last season, scoring one goal and adding two assists.
Davis was one of two Hilltoppers to receive CUSA honors last season, being named the 2024 CUSA Goalkeeper of the Year. The other was sophomore defender Abby Wiedermann, who earned a spot on the CUSA All-Freshman Team.
The Hilltoppers finished the 2024 season 3-8-5 overall and 1-3-5 in Conference USA play. WKU finished eighth in the CUSA standings and failed to make the conference tournament.
WKU opened preseason in 2025 with three exhibition games, a 1-0 loss to Murray State on Aug. 2, a 2-1 win over Belmont on Aug. 4, and a 3-2 loss to Lipscomb on Aug. 9.
“We really wanted to test our new players early. I think we started five or six freshmen against Murray,” Neidell said.
The Hilltoppers kick the season off Thursday, Aug. 14, against the Ohio Bobcats in Athens, Ohio. Kick off set for 4 p.m. Fans can watch the game on ESPN+
