Northwestern women's soccer opens its 2026 home schedule against Syracuse on August 20 at 7 p.m. CT. The Wildcats are looking to bounce back after losing their season opener 3-1 at No. 11 Virginia, breaking their winning streak in season openers. Key players include senior midfielder Holland Carey, who scored her first goal, and junior forward Kennedy Roesch, who was named to the United Soccer Coaches Players to Watch List. Northwestern has a strong record in home openers, remaining unbeaten in the last six. Syracuse, with a recent victory over Holy Cross, aims to hold their ground against a competitive Wildcats team.

By the Numbers
  • Northwestern's women's soccer is unbeaten in their last six home openers (4-0-2).
  • Since 2022, the Wildcats' 21 non-conference wins rank second in the Big Ten.
State of Play
  • Northwestern aims to recover from a season-opening defeat while Syracuse seeks to extend their unbeaten run.
  • Key players for Northwestern include Holland Carey and Kennedy Roesch, with Roesch being a top scorer in the conference.
What's Next

Following the matchup against Syracuse, Northwestern will host Denver on August 23 as part of their home stand.

Bottom Line

As the Wildcats seek a rebound performance at home, the match against Syracuse will be a crucial test of their resilience and teamwork, making it a pivotal moment for the season ahead.