Cullowhee, N.C. – The Western Carolina women's soccer team returned to action today, kicking off its summer practice slate on campus before the fall season starts. Head coach Chad Miller and newly elevated associate head coach Andrew Green oversaw WCU's first two-hour practice of the summer slate, with the full 29-player roster taking part in opening fitness tests and basic drills.

As per new NCAA rules, the Catamounts are permitted to engage in a summer transition period consisting of 10 hours of team activities a week, allowing for a gradual ramp into true preseason action later this month. The preseason slate culminates in a pair of exhibition matches at the on-campus Catamount Athletic Complex against Georgia State (Aug. 5) and Wright State (Aug. 8) before the Catamounts open the 2026 campaign on Aug. 13, hosting the Winthrop Eagles.  

"We are excited to get our fall campaign underway," said Miller of his squad returning to campus and opening preparations. "This season presents a new challenge for our team, as nearly half of our group is new to the program. Because of that, the additional two weeks of preseason training afforded this year and team bonding will be even more valuable than in previous years."

Miller, who is running his 17th preseason leading the Catamounts, added, "We plan to make the most of this extra time as we build chemistry, establish our team culture, and prepare for the season ahead. We're looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead and are excited to see what this group can accomplish together."

The current transition period will allow Miller and staff an opportunity to get eyes on their 14 newcomers to the program, joining the 15 returners filling out the 29 rostered. In total, the Catamounts return three true starters from 2025, in defenders Mary Mueth and Samantha Whitaker, as well as midfielder/forward Emma Soucy. Both Mueth and Whitaker retain their starting roles with the Catamounts since the 2024 season.

The three-starter total is a relatively deceptive number, though, as the Catamounts return four more players who saw action in at least 18 matches a year ago, with Gabriela Vatrano, Maddie Lopez, Rylie Niemeyer, and Malia Roberts. Niemeyer started seven matches early in the season for the Catamounts, with Roberts recording 793 minutes of game action and Vatrano seeing the pitch for 558.

A significant portion of the newcomer class consists of six transfers, including a full-season starter in Louisiana Tech transfer Alexe Drolet. The defender posted 1,671 minutes across 19 matches –with 19 starts – for the Bulldogs, which ranks closely with Mary Mueth's 1,803 minutes and Samantha Whitaker's 1,707 along the backline. The Catamounts have also bolstered their backline with the addition of South Alabama transfer Alexandra Grammenopoulos.

Additionally, the Catamounts could potentially rely on USC Upstate transfer Caroline Simpkins. A member of USC Upstate's 2024 Big South Championship team, Simpkins recorded 26 shots, 11 on goal, through 877 minutes of game action for the Spartans. They've also added Western Kentucky transfer Mackenzie Howard and NC State transfer Eliza Rich to the midfielder ranks.

The 2026 Catamounts will face a tall task in replacing several key graduates in Isabella DeMarco, Milla Syska, two-time SoCon Defensive Player of the Year Ava Robitaille, and Abbie Wise. The quintet accounted for 62 points and 175 total shots. Additional departures from last season include forward Sofia Goclowski (1,307 minutes – 53 shots – 11 points), defender Addison Davis (1,515 minutes – two shots – one point) and midfielder Lucie Bertrand (1,140 minutes – 22 shots – four points).

Miller and staff will also be asked to fill the void left by goalkeeper Leanne Trudel, who accounted for 87 saves while playing all possible minutes through 2026. They will look to a position group consisting of redshirt freshman Amara Yetka, a spring enrollee in Sara Sanders, and true freshman Elizabeth Rupert. Yetka enters her second season with the Catamounts, though the Tempe, Arizona native is yet to see action in a regular season match.  

The Catamounts are set to return to action on Aug. 5 and Aug. 8 for a pair of preseason exhibition matches vs Georgia State and Wright State. First kick is set for 7 p.m. and 2 p.m., respectively, at the on-campus Catamount Athletic Complex. WCU is then hosts Winthrop and UNC Wilmington on Aug. 13 at 6 p.m. and Aug. 16 at 1 p.m. to officially open the 2026 regular season.