Wheeling, W. Va. – In February, Jaclyn Ketter was named the 7th Wheeling University Head Women's Soccer Coach in program history. She has been working on recruiting throughout the winter months, but took one step closer to taking the field in the Fall on Thursday. The team announced their 2026 schedule, kicking off what will be a new era under Ketter as the Cardinals look to make it back to the 2026 Mountain East Conference (MEC) Tournament for the first time since the 2024 season.
In 2025, the Cardinals featured a younger program with veteran leadership sprinkled throughout. The team would be tested in their non-conference schedule, and fell in back-to-back close contests against Florida Southern, 1-0, and Lourdes University (3-1) as part of their back-to-back opening weekend. MEC play would begin with a loss to Point Park, but the Cardinals would get on a roll, defeating West Liberty to even their record. It started a four-game stretch in which the Cardinals scored six team points over four games, moving to 2-3-2 through their first seven games. After falling to West Virginia State to break the streak, the Cardinals got another point in a 1-1 win over Davis & Elkins, keeping them within striking distance of a second straight MEC Tournament appearance. They would need just three wins in their final eight conference games to get in the tournament, but a tough road lay ahead.
After falling in a 1-0 battle with Concord on the road, the Cardinals got another crucial point by drawing a 1-1 tie with Charleston. The MEC South portion of their schedule ended with a pair of losses to Glenville State and West Virginia State, and it would be all MEC North opponents to end the season. Wheeling got some momentum on their side with their biggest offensive output of the season in a 10-0 win over Salem, that jumpstarted the offense. With four MEC North opponents lying ahead, the Cardinal defense led the way, allowing two goals or fewer in three of the final four games. However, they couldn't replicate that offensive success against Salem, not scoring a goal in any of the past four games, as the Cardinals finished the season at 3-11-4 overall and 1-9-4 in MEC play.
The 2026 schedule will start off with the Cardinals having to be road warriors through the first week and a half of the season. After an exhibition to start the year, the Cardinals will take the field for the first time on August 27th when they travel to North Canton, Ohio to take on Walsh. It is the first of two non-conference games for the Cardinals, with the team traveling to Lake Erie on September 2nd, followed by their conference opener at Point Park on September 6th. After battling through the early road schedule, the Cardinals end September with a long home stretch, with four of their final seven games in the month coming at Bishop Schmitt Field. Their home opener will come on September 6th against Frostburg State, followed by the first meeting of "The Battle for Wheeling" against West Liberty on September 13th.
The September home schedule rounds out with battles against Fairmont State (9/20) and Concord (9/27), with road trips to Davis & Elkins (9/16), West Virginia State (9/23), and West Virginia Wesleyan (9/30) in between. The home schedule continues into early October, with the Cardinals hosting Charleston (10/4) and Shawnee State (10/7) to start the month. However, with all of the home games early, the Cardinals will finish on the road with four of their final six away from Bishop Schmitt Field. After a trip to Glenville State on October 11th, the Cardinals will battle Davis & Elkins on October 14th for the first of two home contests. They will then travel to Fairmont State (10/18) and Frostburg State (10/21) in back-to-back games before celebrating their seniors against Point Park on October 25th. The regular season will then wrap up with the final leg of "The Battle for Wheeling" on October 28th on the Hilltop.
The 2026 Wheeling Women's Soccer team will kick-off the 2026 season on Thursday, August 27th, when the team travels to Walsh.
