PAW PRINTS: This Week in Ohio Athletics

Wednesday, August 12

Athens, Ohio

4 p.m. ET

UIC

PAW PRINTS: This Week in Ohio Athletics

8/10/2026 9:00:00 AM | Field Hockey, General, Women's Soccer, Women's Volleyball

ATHENS, Ohio – The 2026-27 Ohio Athletics season is officially underway this week as Ohio Soccer opens the season at home! Check out everything that's ahead for Ohio Athletics in this week's Paw Prints, presented by Memorial Health System.

SOCCER
Aug. 12 / vs. UIC / Athens, Ohio / Chessa Field / 4 p.m. ET/ ESPN+ / Watch / Live Stats / Digital Guide / 2026 Schedule Poster Giveaway
Aug. 16 / at Marshall / Huntington, W. Va. / Hoops Family Field / 7 p.m. ET/ ESPN+ / Watch / Live Stats

Ohio Soccer (0-0) opens the 2026 season this week with two early season matchups. The season begins on Wednesday, August. 12 when the Bobcats host UIC (0-0). First touch is set for 4 p.m. ET at Chessa Field and can be seen on ESPN+. Fans attending can pick up their 2026 schedule poster. Ohio is back in action on Sunday, August. 16 when the Bobcats head to Huntington, W. Va. to take on Marshall (0-0). First touch is set for 7 p.m. ET at Hoops Family Field and can be seen on ESPN+.

The 2026 Bobcats are led by 14th-year head coach Aaron Rodgers. Ohio returns juniors Iro Fakinou (Athens, Greece) and Sania Dearing (Pickerington, Ohio) and seniors Jaimason Brooker (Powell, Ohio) and Kate Robinson (Madison Heights, Mich.) who were four of the top five point scorers for the Bobcats in 2025, with Fakinou leading the way with four goals and nine points. Ohio also returns senior Anna Burchette (Prestonburg, Ky.) and redshirt senior Ella Deevers (Streetsboro, Ohio), as well as graduate student Eve Berish (Hudson, Ohio) who missed last season due to injury.

The Bobcats also add 10 newcomers to the roster, including nine freshmen and one transfer.

UIC is coming off a 2025 campaign that saw the Flames go 8-8-6 and go on a run to win the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament after defeating Illinois State in penalties in the championship game. UIC would go on to fall to #2 Notre Dame in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Marshall is coming off a 2025 season that saw The Herd go 8-5-4 overall and 4-2-4 in the Sun Belt. Marshall's eight wins were the most in a decade and included four All-Conference selections, also the program's most since 2015. The Herd welcomes 15 newcomers to its roster and returns 13, including graduate student Bailey Fisher who enters the season tied for third in program history with 19 career goals. Marshall was selected sixth in the SBC Preseason Poll.

FIELD HOCKEY
Aug. 14 / vs. Ohio State (Exhibition) / Athens, Ohio / Pruitt Field / 3 p.m. ET / Season Tickets

Ohio Field Hockey will take to the field for the first scrimmage of the 2026 season when the Bobcats host Ohio State on Friday, Aug. 14. First touch is set for 3 p.m. ET at Pruitt Field.

Come out and see your Bobcats for the first time before the start of the regular season on Aug 28 against Michigan State.

VOLLEYBALL
Aug. 15 / Green and White Scrimmage / Athens, Ohio / Convocation Center / 6 p.m. ET / Free Admission

Ohio Volleyball takes the court in Athens for the first time in 2026 on Saturday, August 15 when the Bobcats host their annual Green and White Scrimmage. First serve is set for 6 p.m. ET inside the Convocation Center. Admission is free for all to attend.

This will be your first chance to see the 2026 squad in Athens before the 2026 Bobcat Invitational Presented by AthensOhio.com Sept. 18-19. Season tickets are still on sale and can be purchased here.

#OUohyeah