Penguins Women’s Soccer 2026 Season Preview
8/3/2026 2:16:00 PM | Women's Soccer
The Youngstown State women's soccer program looks to build on the momentum created by its success during the 2025 campaign as it preps for the 2026 season.
The Penguins, who celebrate the program's 30th anniversary this year, begin their 31st season of competition and their second under Head Coach Rich Wall.
Youngstown State returns 19 letterwinners and six starters from last year's squad that finished third in the Horizon League with a 6-2-2 conference mark, and the Penguins added 16 newcomers, including five transfers, for the upcoming campaign. That experience and depth will be needed in a rugged non-conference slate and Horizon League action.
Tough Slate
Wall loaded up the non-league portion of the schedule for the second straight season with teams from the American, ACC, Big Ten, and SEC along with teams from the Atlantic-10, Atlantic Sun, Mid-American Conference, and the Patriot League.
Scoring Threats Return
Last season, the Penguins posted the most goals scored (29), assists (24), and points (82) against an exclusively Division I schedule in program history. Youngstown State returns its top four scorers and 82.8 percent of its goals scored, 66.7 percent of its assists, and 78 percent of its total points scored from that squad.
Senior forward Sara Felder, a Third-Team All-Horizon League selection in 2025, led the team with eight goals and 19 total points. Her eight goals ranked tied for third on the YSU single-season list and were the most goals scored since 2010.
Sophomore forward Kamryn Rosa was named the 2025 Horizon League Freshman of the Year and second-team all-conference after posting seven goals and two assists for 16 points. She was just the sixth YSU freshman to score seven goals in a year and were the most by a freshman since 2011.
Senior midfielder Cami Bultel scored four goals with four assists for 12 total points and earned Third-Team All-Horizon League honors while sophomore forward Baylee Williams turned in an outstanding rookie campaign with four goals and two assists for 10 points.
On the Attack
Along with the trio of Felder, Rosa and Williams, the Penguins will look to sophomores Ghita Haouzi, Natalia Rivera Lorenzo, and freshmen Gabriella Fadel and Francesca Cassese for added scoring.
In the Middle
Youngstown State has a plethora of options in the midfield, but will look to returners Bultel, senior Emma Berdiner, juniors Teagan Wahle and Leah Weiland and sophomores Gwen Schulman and Kendalyn Umbel to shore up the middle of the field. Talented newcomers sophomore Keira Mehalko, fifth-year Elena Zuchowski, and freshmen Nicole Bown, Presley Caslin, Mia Deramo, Quinn Miller, and Jenna Tufo are all poised to make positive contributions.
The Defense
The group the provide the Penguins to most depth is their back line at defender. Seniors Eva Sunjevaric and Makayla Thinger and juniors Madison Bazylewicz and Kate Makkas have the most minutes played of the returning defenders. Senior Autumn Fairfax, sophomores Hayden Barry, Ava Paris, Rylee Sorrell and Ava Yurko, and freshman Hayden Goldstein, Emerson Suckow, and Danielle Wylie are all expected to compete for time on the pitch.
In the Net
Youngstown State will have a battle to see who will be in the net for the Penguins. Senior Aimee Benton, junior Kendall Sears, and freshman Cami Givens are all vying for the top spot in the goal.
Season Opener
Youngstown State celebrates its 30th Anniversary and its 31st season when the 2026 campaign commences against Atlantic Coast Conference member Pittsburgh, Wednesday, Aug. 12. Kickoff against the Panthers is set for 7 p.m. at Ambrose Urbanic Field in Pittsburgh, Pa.
