SEASON PREVIEW: 2026 Madison College WolfPack Women's Soccer

The Madison College women's soccer team is hopefully an influx of new players will catapult the program to its highest height since moving to Division II in Region 4. Injuries derailed a promising season in 2025, and now third year head coach Logan Fye is hopefully for a healthy and competitive 2026. The new year begins in a hurry with the season and home opener on Friday, August 21, followed by the first road and Region 4 match on Saturday, August 22 against Kishwaukee College.

“This year's team should have quality in every position with strong depth, which will bring out the best in each of us. I am pleased at the level that our team has grown to and it should make for some very competitive training sessions throughout the season. Our schedule is difficult and it's a tall task to make the jump into the top two in our region given how strong Rock Valley College and South Suburban College have been, however we have the confidence to compete in all of our matches. A primary goal is to have great health throughout the season and to hit our peak come late October/early November. We've had enough of watching others compete for a Region 4 Championship on our field, so we would like to be in that game on November 7th, 2026!”

Sophomores

Six players are back from a season ago, including three defenders, two midfielders, and a forward. As a whole, the group accounted for eight goals and five goals; however, it also features three players that logged more than 1,000 minutes of play time as first year players. Emlyn Knutson was off to a great start, scoring five goals in the third game before suffering a season-ending injury in the next match. The forward hopes the knee won't hinder her ability to test opposing goalkeepers. Hayleigh Motelet and Zoey Lovejoy return as midfielders, while Emmy Coe Troup and Alexandra Leal are back to help anchor the defense. Maddie Marquette could split time between midfield and defender.

Joining the group of second years are midfielder/forward Amalia Mølgård, midfielder Kylie Hellenbrand, and defender Brenna Uttech. Uttech saw action in 13 matches as a freshman at NCAA Division III UW-Oshkosh, with Hellenbrand transfering after appearing in one contest at NCAA Division III UW-Platteville. Mølgård competed at NJCAA Division II St. Clair County Community College, where she posted a team-best nine goals in 15 matches played en route to Second Team All-MCCAA recognition.

“We're excited about the quality and character of this group of returners. They will be a strong presence in our team and be vital resources to our newcomers. Looking forward to seeing what they achieve!”

Freshman

In addition to the three second year transfers, the WolfPack welcome in 13 freshman players to the program. The group of 16 newcomers also includes four foreign-born players, the first in program history. Aside from Mølgård of Denmark, Arabella Penfold is from Australia and part of a three-person battle for the starting goalkeeper position, along with Makenzie Roman and Markiya Uherka. Roos Zwolschen if a forward from the Netherlands and expected to help produce on the offensive end along with Maddie Ludwig and Aubrey Reesman. Ludwig was part of a WIAA Division 4 State Tournament Qualifier at Washburn High School. The midfielder group features another player from the Netherlands in Fay Den Hoed, as well as Chloe Adalin and Bayley Winrich. Emma Koziel will split time between midfielder and defender, while Leslie De La Portilla and Allison Smiley will be part of the rotation at defender.

“We are thrilled about the quality and the depth of this recruiting class. In my opinion, all of our newcomers add to our team in a variety of ways and will show their worth throughout the season. This class features a few transfers, along with some true first years, both domestically and internationally, who are capable of making a splash in the region.”

Schedule

Following the back-to-back matches on opening weekend, the 2026 schedule has Madison College on the home pitch for four of their first five matches. That stretch includes an August 29 showdown with Hawkeye Community College, who is receiving votes in the NJCAA Division II Preseason Poll. September ends with three road games and consecutive home dates against Region 4 foes before a gauntlet of region contests greets the WolfPack in October. They are at #15-ranked South Suburban College on October 3, followed by an October 7 trip to #10 Rock Valley College. The regular season winds down with three of five at home, highlighted by Youth Day on October 10 against Bryant & Stratton College and Sophomore Night on October 21 against Milwaukee Tech. An away contest at Waubonsee Community College closes out the regular season before postseason play begins October 28. Madison College will again host the 2026 NJCAA Region 4 Division II Women's Soccer Championship on Saturday, November 7, with the winner earning an automatic berth to the NJCAA Division II Women's Soccer Championships in Huntsville, Alabama.