University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
Purple & Gold Scrimmage
Panther soccer begins 2026 preseason with Purple and Gold Scrimmage on Wednesday
8/3/2026 1:00:00 PM | Women's Soccer
UNI to play the first of two preseason matches before Aug. 12 regular season opener.
UNI soccer (0-0-0 / 0-0-0 MVC) | Purple & Gold Scrimmage
- Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026
- 4 p.m. CT
- UNI Soccer Field | Cedar Falls, Iowa
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- The UNI soccer team will take to the pitch for the first time in 2026 on Wednesday afternoon for a Purple and Gold Scrimmage at the UNI Soccer Field.
Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. CT at the UNI Soccer Field with the contest free and open to the public.
Spectators can park in the west UNI-Dome lot as well as the gravel lot located next to the Doug and Anne Goschke Outdoor Practice Facility. Parking behind the team benches will be reserved for staff and game officials only.
Northern Iowa begins year two of the Alex Place Thomas era with her first full season as coach after serving as interim head coach in 2025. The Panthers will lean on the leadership of seven returners including Camille Landphair, Ella Ubben, Torie Delgado, Kylie Knief and Allison Flies, the latter of whom was one of six multi-goal scorers for the purple and gold a season ago.
UNI's 2026 roster features 20 newcomers with ten freshmen and ten transfers, including eight with Division I roster experience. Among the top newcomers this fall include former North Dakota State forward and 2025 Iowa High School Gatorade Player of the Year Abi Roberts, former Wartburg veteran defender Maya Anderson with 54 career matches played, and former Yavapai College goalkeeper Poppy Anderson with 13 career matches played in goal.
Wednesday's match will also welcome Hadley Foelske to the pitch, the program's Kid Captain for the 2026 and 2027 seasons. Foelske, a Jesup, Iowa native, signed with the program last month in partnership with Team IMPACT, a national nonprofit organization that connects children facing serious illness and disabilities with college athletic teams.
There are going to be a lot of players that will be fighting for significant playing time that are going to make some huge splashes here, said Place Thomas. I think we'll be extremely competitive in both conference and non conference play.
The Panthers will also host Hawkeye Community College in an exhibition match at home on Saturday, Aug. 8 at 4 p.m. CT. UNI's season opener is scheduled for 4 p.m. CT on Wednesday, Aug. 12 against South Dakota.
UNI women's soccer action can be followed all season long on social media on Facebook (UNI Panther Soccer), X (@UNI_Soccer) and on Instagram (@unipanthersoccer). Schedule and roster information, along with the latest Panther news and information can be found online at UNIpanthers.com.
