Northwestern kicks off its 2026 season with two matches, starting with New Haven on Thursday at home, followed by a visit to Notre Dame on Sunday. This year marks head coach Russell Payne's sixth season, having led the team to three consecutive winning seasons after surpassing 100 career wins in 2025. Northwestern returns 15 letterwinners, including key player Aaron O鈥橰eilly, while New Haven aims to improve from a 5-5-6 debut season in Division I. Notre Dame, coming off a 9-7-4 season, also looks to build momentum with a strong preseason ranking.

By the Numbers
  • Northwestern boasts a record of 100 career wins under Russell Payne as of 2025.
  • New Haven finished their inaugural Division I season with a record of 5-5-6.
State of Play
  • Northwestern opens with a home game against New Haven, marking their first matchup ever.
  • Notre Dame leads the all-time series against Northwestern, 14-5-5, ahead of their 25th meeting.
What's Next

Following the Notre Dame game, Northwestern will play Evansville on August 28, before returning home to face Xavier on August 31.

Bottom Line

The season opener for Northwestern sets the stage for a competitive year, spotlighting key returning players and a challenging encounter against a historic rival in Notre Dame. Success hinges on leveraging past performances and building momentum early in the season.