PREVIEW: Women's soccer kicks off 2026 season at URI on Wednesday
8/10/2026 2:13:00 PM | Women's Soccer
The Black Bears and Rams kickoff at 7 p.m. at URI Soccer Complex.
ORONO, Maine – The University of Maine women's soccer team will kick off the 2026 season on Wednesday, Aug. 12 when it travels to Rhode Island to face the Rams at the URI Soccer Complex.
The 7 p.m. non-conference clash between the Black Bears and Rams will air live on ESPN+.
Game 1 | Maine at Rhode Island
Wednesday, Aug. 12 | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Kingston, R.I. | URI Soccer Complex
ABOUT MAINE
• Maine went 6-8-4 overall in 2025 en route to a third consecutive America East tournament title and NCAA Tournament berth.
• Maine returns three of its top five scorers from the 2025 squad … eight of 11 goal scorers and eight of 12 overall point getters are also back for the Black Bears.
• Luise Reinwald and Olivia Grisdale were both named to the America East Preseason All-Conference team … the Black Bears were picked to finish first in the coaches' poll and tied with Binghamton with four first-place votes each.
• The Black Bears return eight starters from last year's postseason versus returning three starters a season ago.
ABOUT RHODE ISLAND
• Rhode Island went 13-5-3 overall in 2025 … the Rams went 5-3-2 in A-10 play and made it to the conference title game for the first time in 20 years.
• Three of Rhode Island's top five scorers from a season ago are back, including leading scorer Lauren MacDonald who had 10 goals and five assists last year.
• The Rams were picked to finish third in the A-10 preseason poll while the forward MacDonald and goalkeeper Dani Eden were named to the Preseason All-Conference squad.
SERIES HISTORY vs RHODE ISLAND
• Maine is 9-11-3 in the all-time series with Rhode Island … the Black Bears are 3-2-0 in the last five meetings, dating back to 2015.
• The Rams and Black Bears met last season in Orono, with URI earning a 2-0 win … the teams were scoreless in the first half before the Rams scored in the 53rd and 75th minute for the victory.
• These teams squared off in Kingston in the 2024 season, with Maine picking up a 1-0 win.
UP NEXT
• Maine will kick off a three-game homestand when it hosts Mercer at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 20 at the New Balance Soccer Complex.
• The Black Bears will also host Sacred Heart on Aug. 23 and Merrimack on Aug. 27.
