ALBANY, N.Y. – The University at Albany women's soccer team kicks off the start of the 2025-2026 UAlbany Athletics season on Sunday, August 17, at 11:00 am when they take on the University of Georgia in Athens, Ga. at the Turner Soccer Complex on SEC+
The upcoming season marks the 36
th season for the program and its 26
th at the Division I level, with just the fourth season under head coach
Sade Ayinde. The program aims to claim its fourth America East title in 10 seasons, having achieved this feat in 2015, 2016, and 2018.
"We are excited to kick off this season down in Georgia," said coach Ayinde. "Our team will face a lot of different challenges with our different non-conference match ups, so we hope to learn and grow through those challenges in preparation for America East play. "
New Hires
Joining Coach Ayinde on the sideline this season will be Assistant Coach
Meg Richardson, who joins the program after working in the same role at Williams College following a goalkeeping collegiate career at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. Additionally,
Tom Bartyzel joins the staff in his first collegiate coaching role, having previously coached at the club and high school levels.
The Squad
UAlbany returns 18 players from last season's team including team leaders in goals, senior
Selma Elverum and redshirt junior
Casey Stowell. Back from injury and returning to join her twin sister,
Madison Hnis, on the pitch is
Hailey Hnis. Sophomore
Alexis Gordon is back on the Great Danes defense, having led the team in minutes of any field player in 2024, alongside fellow defenders
Charlie Pawli,
Madison Wisheart and
Meredith Blannett.
In addition to returners, the 2025 campaign welcomes freshmen
Angie McLoughlin,
Julia DiRaddo and
Tamia Nelson at forward,
Sara Tyler and
Lauren Villasin at defense, along with
Anna Nassivera in goal.
"We spent the majority of the spring working on how we want to play and compete as a group," said coach Ayinde. "It feels good to have 18 returners who are all bought in to what we have been building and are hungry for success. Then with the addition of our six new freshmen, we will be able to add even more depth to our group."
The 2024 Season
Following a 3-12-1 overall record and a 2-5-1 record in America East play, with a strong core of experience in its returners, the Great Danes will look to improve upon last season.
America East Preseason Poll
In the recent #AEWSOC preseason coaches' poll, the Great Danes were projected to finish eighth in the conference and ahead of UMBC, as announced by the league.
Binghamton and New Hampshire were tied at the top of the rankings with 55 total points and two first-place votes each.
Women's Preseason Poll
| Pl. |
School |
Pts (1st) |
| T1. |
Binghamton |
55 (2) |
| T1. |
New Hampshire |
55 (2) |
| 3. |
Maine |
52 (4) |
| 4. |
UMass Lowell |
46 (1) |
| 5. |
Vermont |
39 |
| 6. |
Bryant |
25 |
| 7. |
NJIT |
22 |
| 8. |
UAlbany |
19 |
| 9. |
UMBC |
11 |
2025 Season Schedule
Following its season opener at Georgia, UAlbany returns home to play the first home game of any Great Dane team for the 2025-26 season against Sacred Heart (Aug. 21) with three home non-conference games vs Army (Aug. 24), Rider (Sept. 14), and Dartmouth (Oct. 21) with four non-conference road matches at LIU (Aug. 28), Boston College (Aug. 31), Le Moyne (Sept. 7) and Rider Sept. 14)
UAlbany's home conference matches consist of Maine (Sept. 21), UMBC (Oct. 2), New Hampshire (Oct. 12), and Vermont (Oct. 30). It's away conference slates see's the Great Danes heading to NJIT (Sept. 28), Bryant (Oct. 5), Binghamton (Oct. 16) and UMass Lowell (Oct. 26)
2025 Promotional Schedule
Thu, Aug. 21 vs. Sacred Heart – Welcome Back Night
Sun, Aug. 24 vs. Army – Sunday Funday
- First 50 students in attendance will receive a FREE cross-body bag
- Post-game Autographs
Sun, Sept. 21 vs Maine – Senior Day
Thur. Oct. 2 vs. UMBC – Spread Respect / The Hidden Opponent
- Mental Health Awareness Night
Sun. Oct. 12 vs UNH – Sunday Funday
Tue. Oct. 21 vs Dartmouth – International Students Night
Thu. Oct. 30 vs Vermont – Pink Game
- Breast Cancer Awareness Night
ESPN+ Streaming
For the 2025 UAlbany women's soccer season, all home games will be streamed on ESPN+. Streaming links for all home games can be found on the UAlbany women's soccer
schedule page, as well as at
plus.espn.com
America East Championships
The 2025 America East Women's Soccer Championships are set to open on Sunday, November 2, with a pair of quarterfinal matches. Semifinal matches are slated for Thursday, November 6, before the Finals match on Sunday, November 9.
All game times and locations will be determined at a later date.
The top six women's soccer teams will compete in the MAC Championships, with the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds receiving a bye to the semifinals. The No. 3 and No. 6 seed will face each other, while the No. 5 and No. 4 seed match up in the quarterfinals round.
Social Central: For more information on the UAlbany women's soccer team, follow the squad's official social media accounts on
X and
Instagram and UAlbany Athletics on
Facebook.
