CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – The 2026 American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) women’s soccer season is just around the corner, in what should be another competitive season in the league. The Loras College Duhawks were selected as the preseason favorite to reclaim the regular season title.
The men's soccer conference regular season kicks off on October 7 and runs through October 27. The top six teams from the regular season will advance to the conference tournament on October 31, November 4, and November 7. The higher seed in each round will host.
2026 American Rivers Conference
Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll |
| Place |
Team (first-place votes) |
Points |
| 1. |
Loras College (7) |
49 |
| 2. |
University of Dubuque |
42 |
| 3. |
Simpson College |
38 |
| 4. |
Wartburg College |
28 |
| 5. |
Central College |
27 |
| 6. |
Nebraska Wesleyan University |
20 |
| 7. |
Buena Vista University |
11 |
| 8. |
Coe College |
9 |
*coaches cannot vote for their own institution*
Buena Vista University:
2026 Schedule | 2026 Roster
2025 Record: 4-12-2 overall; 1-7 A-R-C
2025 Conference Finish: 8th
Mauricio Lozada enters his fourth season as the head coach of the Beavers in Storm Lake. The bulk of his starting lineup returns to the pitch this season, including Maia Jaroch as a previous all-conference honoree.
"We are excited to get the season started. We might be young but we have a good amount of experience coming back and an eager group of first years that are going to help us compete in this very tough conference."
Central College:
2026 Schedule | 2026 Roster
2025 Record: 10-5-3 overall; 3-3-2 A-R-C
2025 Conference Finish: 5th
Michael Kobylinski enters his 16th season at the helm of the Dutch women’s soccer program. He returns eight starters to his lineup this season, including Piper Eighmy, Zoey Sizemore, Rylee Rustad, and Kylie Bloomstrom as returning all-conference performers. The Dutch are coming off back-to-back conference tournament semifinal appearances.
"We return an outstanding nucleus of talented players who are complemented by an incoming group that fits the same mold on and off the pitch. With the experience, talent, and culture in place, we are ready to compete at the highest level.”
Coe College:
2026 Schedule | 2026 Roster
2025 Record: 2-12-4 overall; 0-8- A-R-C
2025 Conference Finish: 9th
James Culotta leads the charge again for the Kohawks as they return a strong core for the 2026 season. Coe returns eight starters, including Magdalynne Preuss as an all-conference honoree.
"We are looking forward to having 14 juniors and seniors on the roster this fall and all the experience that they will bring to the table. We also get a couple players coming back off of injuries from the 2025 season. We missed their leadership on the field last fall and are excited to get them back on the pitch in 2026!”
University of Dubuque:
2026 Schedule | 2026 Roster
2025 Record: 11-2-6 overall; 7-0-1 A-R-C
2025 Conference Finish: 1st
Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2014
Jason Berna leads the Spartans after a successful 2025 campaign as regular season champions. UD returns ten starters, including returning all-conference performers Brooke Clark, Karissa Cruz, Ava Hortillosa, Sarah Thompson, and Claire Husnick.
"Really excited to see what we are capable of this year in the A-R-C. We will have a great mix of young and old players, with high expectations of ourselves!"
Loras College:
2026 Schedule | 2026 Roster
2025 Record: 15-2-2 overall; 6-1-1 A-R-C
2025 Conference Finish: 2nd
Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2025
Matt Pucci enters his 11th season as head coach of the Duhawks. Loras will return seven starters to the pitch in 2026. Emerson Gasmann, Hannah Fedinec, Mayte Navejas, and Bella Scesniak will return as previous all-conference performers.
“We are excited to get going again in 2026!”
Nebraska Wesleyan University:
2026 Schedule | 2026 Roster
2025 Record: 4-7-5 overall; 2-4-2 A-R-C
2025 Conference Finish: 7th
Robert Lynch enters his second season as the head coach of the Prairie Wolves. Nebraska Wesleyan returns eight starters, including Averie Hike as a returning all-conference performer.
“We are anxious to begin the season! The team has a bit more depth this fall and that same desire to write their own script for the postseason. We will have to draw on the experience from the returning players to guide a large group of new incoming players eager to help make an impact. Every game in the A-R-C is a challenge, and we'll need consistency and maturity to take the next steps.”
Simpson College:
2026 Schedule | 2026 Roster
2025 Record: 11-6-2 overall; 6-2 A-R-C
2025 Conference Finish: 3rd
Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2024
Jeremy Reinhert has compiled a record of 85-42-15 while at Simpson. He returns eight to the pitch this season for the Storm. Ally Hoffa, Meredith Downs, Abby Bell, and Savannah Schneider return as previous all-conference performers.
"We're really excited about the group we have this fall. They've prioritized our team culture and elevated our program standards and commitment level. I am eager to see their hard work take shape and see if it can put us in the conversation to win a conference title this fall."
Wartburg College:
2026 Schedule | 2026 Roster
2025 Record: 8-10-1 overall; 4-3-1 A-R-C
2025 Conference Finish: 4th
Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2022
Emily Ryan enters her fifth season in Waverly leading the women’s soccer program. She returns Tulla Jensen, Kenna Hemann, Paige Lienhard, Lindsey Overmann, and Athena Sheets to the starting lineup.
“The A-R-C is filled with a lot of talent again this year, and the 2026 season should be another competitive one. We are excited to get rolling!”
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About the American Rivers Conference
Nationally respected for excellence in NCAA Division III athletics, the American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) has a tradition dating back to its founding in 1922 as the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Association and adopted its current name in 2018 to reflect its strong Iowa roots and growing regional footprint. The A-R-C is a collaborative community that champions the holistic development of student-athletes, uniting member institutions in a shared commitment to academic achievement, athletic distinction, and leadership.
The A-R-C is home to eight full-time member institutions: Buena Vista University, Central College, Coe College, University of Dubuque, Loras College, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Simpson College, and Wartburg College.
