Women's soccer ready to kick off 2026 campaign

Linfield women's soccer enters the 2026 season with momentum following one of the program's strongest campaigns in recent history. After climbing to third place in the Northwest Conference a season ago, the Wildcats return a sizable group of experienced contributors as they look to continue their upward trajectory under head coach Steve Simmons.

Linfield turned in a breakthrough 2025 campaign, finishing 10-5-5 overall and 8-5-3 in Northwest Conference play to take third in the conference standings. The 10 victories marked the Wildcats' best overall record since 2018, while their third-place NWC finish was the program's best since tying for third in 2016. Linfield scored an NWC-best 32 goals with 15 different Wildcats finding the back of the net and led the conference with 121 corner kicks.

Lize Rendon and Jenna Stanley shared the team lead with five goals apiece, with Rendon's three assists giving her a team-best 13 points. Lena Caballero Uhtoff followed with four goals and two assists, while senior captain Mia Curtaz directed the attack with six assists, leading both Linfield and the NWC. In goal, Alexa Fritz played all 1,800 minutes, recording 70 saves, a .795 save percentage and nine shutouts.

The Wildcats' senior class played a major role in the turnaround. The class dominated Linfield's postseason awards: Curtaz was named First Team All-NWC, Fritz, Jones and Rendon earned Second Team honors and Stanley landed on the Third Team. Curtaz went on to become Linfield's first United Soccer Coaches All-Region selection since 2013, earning Third Team All-Region X recognition, while Curtaz, Fritz, Lacktrup and Pietrok were named CSC Academic All-District.

“We have a few seniors returning for their fifth year, and it's wonderful. At this level, when you've got players who want to take an extra year, it makes my heart warm. It shows that they have really enjoyed their experience here to do that. We're also excited to return Sofia [Pietrok] and Faith [Richards] who I know will compete very hard this Fall." said Coach Simmons on the senior class.

Head Coach Steve Simmons brought in a freshman class of seven Wildcats, five of which from Washington State, one from Oregon, and one from Nevada. The ‘Cats look to replace 15 goals scored by last season’s senior class, with openings at each the forward, midfield, defense, and goalkeeper positions. Four All-Northwest Conference honorees graduated last season, leaving just midfielders Caballero Uhtoff and Rendon as all-conference returners in 2026.

Linfield begins the non-conference slate on the road, traveling to Eugene, Oregon, for their first game of the season at Bushnell on September 1 at 7 p.m. The 'Cats then host both St. Thomas (TX.) (September 6) and Corban (September 10) for two home matchups before the conference schedule begins. The non-conference portion of the season concludes with a neutral site match against UW-Stevens Point on September 12 at 7:30 p.m. in Walla Walla, Washington, on the campus of Whitman College. 

Women's soccer begins Northwest Conference play on the road at Whitman on September 19 before heading north to Spokane, Washington, to take on Whitworth the next day. The 'Cats make their home debut on September 26 against Lewis & Clark at 2:45 p.m. From there, Linfield will host the co-regular season NWC champions in Puget Sound and Pacific Lutheran the following weekend. 

The regular season wraps up at home on Sunday, November 8, against the Pacific Boxers at 1:45 p.m. where the senior class will be recognized.