Wheeling, W. Va. – In their return from hiatus in 2025, the Wheeling University Women's Lacrosse team advanced to the Mountain East Conference (MEC) Tournament's Semifinal Round. They enter the 2026 season with their sights back on the MEC tournament with a group that continues to grow together. On Monday, the team released their 2026 schedule As they chase down programs first MEC title since the 2018 season.

2025 saw the reinstatement of the Wheeling University Women's Lacrosse program, and the women made themselves known right away. They would win each of their first two games, defeating Allegheny College 22-9 and Tiffin 17-14 to start the season. They rounded out their non-conference schedule with three straight losses, but bounced back in their first MEC game since 2019. They battled with West Virginia Wesleyan University and scored a 26-4 win to get conference play started. They would go 2-2 to start their conference schedule, And officially clinched their MEC Tournament spot in a 19-7 win over Davis & Elkins on April 9^th. They would enter the tournament as the #4 seed from the MEC North Division, and hosted #5 Davis & Elkins in the MEC Play-in game. The Cardinals would take down the Senators to advance  to the semifinals, but fell to Frostburg State 17-1 to bring their run in the tournament to an end. It was a strong return to the school for the Cardinals and they looked to build on that success and continue to build the program this season.

For the second straight season, the Cardinals will open their 2026 schedule at home in non-conference action. They play host to Gannon University On Saturday, February 14th in their 2026 season opener. They will hit the road just 4 days later on  February 18th as they battle Shippensburg For their first Road game of the season. The Cardinals won't return to action again until the calendar flips to March when they host Lake Erie on March 7^th, continuing their non-conference run. Wheeling will split their last two non-conference games, traveling to slippery Rock on March 11th, and hosting Finley on March 14^th. During their non-conference slate, willing. Will see a combination of teams from both the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) and the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (GMAC) As they get to match up with some of the top teams in the region before hitting their MEC schedule.

That schedule begins with the newest team to join the MEC women's lacrosse field on March 22^nd. Wheeling will travel to Highmark Stadium in Pittsburgh to welcome Point Park to the conference in their first ever women's lacrosse match. Their home opener will come just 4 days later, when they play a rematch of their MEC Play-in Game against Davis and Elkins on March 26^th. They close out March with a road game against Charleston on the 29^th before heading into the final month of the season. April will see the Cardinals home for four of their seven games during the month, starting off on April 1^st against defending MEC Champions Frostburg State. They then  go on the road for back to that games against West Virginia Wesleyan and Davis & Elkins, before returning home to face Charleston on April 12^th. They play their final Road game of the season April 15^th against Frostburg State, and close their home schedule with matches against West Virginia Wesleyan (April 18th) and Point Park (April 22^nd) to round out the season.

The Wheeling University Women's Lacrosse team opens up the 2026 season on Saturday, February 14^th, when they take on Gannon University.