2026 Ohio Soccer Season Preview
8/11/2026 12:17:00 PM | Women's Soccer
ATHENS, Ohio - A new season for the Ohio soccer team is quickly approaching as the Bobcats will play their season opener on Wednesday (Aug. 12) against UIC.Â
The season marks the 14th at the helm for longtime head coach Aaron Rodgers as he looks to get his Ohio team back to the top of the Mid-American Conference.Â
This season, he will be doing so with a refreshed squad that includes 10 total newcomers, including nine freshmen, a new group that has already been getting accustomed to college soccer following exhibition matches against Xavier and Morehead State.
"We have 10 newcomers," Rodgers said. "It was a great opportunity to get a lot of new people in."
It will be a new-look team this season for Ohio as they graduated nine seniors last season. There are still some key returners coming back this season like senior forwards Jaimason Brooker and Anna Burchett.Â
They will be looking to score goals in big bunches, something that is a priority for Rodgers and his coaching staff.Â
"We've got to get to where we're going to score some more goals," Rodgers said. "Defensively we've always been pretty sound, and we want to continue to be strong defensively, and if we're not scoring goals, we need to obviously limit goals and limit chances for the opponent."
Ohio ranked second in the MAC in expected goals per game last season, but areas of the game like set pieces and attacking off corners are some areas where the staff looks to improve.Â
"We need to improve our set piece defending and attacking as well," Rodgers said. "We've we've focused on that."
The backline and defense for Ohio is always rock solid and last season was no exception as the Bobcats allowed 20 goals in 19 games last season which ranked sixth in the MAC. Redshirt senior defender Ella Deevers is a big piece to get back, giving Ohio a veteran presence in the back line.Â
One big loss this season is goalkeeper Celeste Sloma graduating, but two young and talented keepers are waiting in the wings with returning sophomore Bella Wyatt and freshman Ayla Rammel both looking to take over the starting job this season.Â
"Ayla, she's a freshman, but she's a beast," Rodgers said. "She's come in and done really well. Bella trained hard in the spring, and she's done well additionally."
After winning the MAC in 2023 and making the MAC Tournament in 2024, the Bobcats missed the postseason last year. It was a disappointing feeling for the players who are returning this year with a renewed mindset as they look to get back to the playoffs.Â
The seniors on the team have stepped into a new leadership role as well, welcoming in the many newcomers as the team strives toward returning to the top of the podium with another MAC title.Â
"The environment and the spirit of the group is fantastic," Rodgers said. "They definitely welcomed the new people. They enjoy being around each other so that's awesome and I give a lot of credit to the upperclassmen and the leaders for being a big part in that and leading the way."
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