EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – The 2026 women's soccer regular season gets underway Wednesday in Huntsville, Alabama, as the Cougars take on Alabama A&M in a 3 p.m. contest.
SIUE women's soccer Head Coach Derek Burton kicks off his 19th season with the Cougars and sees his 2026 squad as one with strong depth.
"This is a young and inexperienced team, said Burton. "But I like this team's depth and I don't have the same concerns about positions on the field that we had last season."
The Cougars return 2026 Ohio Valley Conference Player to Watch and team captain Sarah Bozeman in net. The senior from O'Fallon, Missouri, posted four shutouts in league play last season and finished the season with 104 saves.
"She's just extremely motivated as she always is," said Burton. "She's a very motivated person in every way, shape or form. She played on a really good summer team that kept her playing at a high level. She's been game ready from the start."
Burton said his team's depth is a positive beginning with the goalkeeping corps that also includes redshirt junior Tavey Duncan (Troy, Illinois), sophomore Kristen Keller (Lenexa, Kansas) and freshman Baylor Lynch (St. Charles, Missouri).
Bozeman figures to have four backs directly in front of her on defense led by senior captain Taylor Babb (St. Louis).
"She's been a really good leader," said Burton. "She was probably one of our most consistent players last year, and since last fall it was the first time she hasn't missed big chunks of time. She's really getting to her potential, and it's great timing."
Burton noted midyear transfer Ashley Molinari (Downers Grove, Illinois) had a great spring and is a phenomenal defender and can be a vocal leader from the backline.
The Cougars plan to challenge the rest of the defensive corps to see who provides the best addition to building the backfield behind Babb and Molinari.
That includes Anna Zichella (St. Louis), Maya Gaines (O'Fallon, Missouri), Kate Gleeson (Toronto, Canada), Audrey Roberts (LaGrange, Kentucky), Lailyn Patterson (O'Fallon, Illinois), Ella Simpson (Lemont, Illinois), Emma Czech (Lockport, Illinois), Mackenzie Hayes (St. Peters, Missouri), Zeniyah Russell (Forney, Texas) and Zoe Bumiller (Chesterfield, Missouri). The latter three can move up in the offense at times and provide strength on the front line.
In the midfield, Burton said transfer Carson Bohnenstiehl (St. Jacob, Illinois) had a great preseason and will be leaning on her to provide strength as a box-to-box midfielder.
Olivia Watt (Whitbey, Ontario), Marin Vines (Kirkwood, Missouri), Ava Lewis (Wentzville, Missouri), Sammy Williams (Washington, Missouri), Imogene Joseph (Thunder Bay, Canada) and Mckenna Wigfield (Naperville, Illinois) will be looking for starting assignments or significant time off the bench at midfield.
The crew of forwards have that ever-so burden of beings the ones asked to put the ball on net early and often. Burton said he likes the team's depth up front.
It begins with Claire Nieroda (O'Fallon, Illinois), who played much of her first season as a Cougar in the midfield due to team injuries. She will move closer to the goal as a front-line player, sliding her more toward her natural strengths.
MaryClaire Imig (St. Louis) and transfer Tori Bockstadter (O'Fallon, Missouri) should join Nieroda as forwards. Burton said he is hopeful this combination will enjoy some success this season.
Burton's options at forward also include Amanda Dean (Lake Hiawatha, New Jersey), Zoe Bumiller (Chesterfield, Missouri), Alayna Hauser (Omaha, Nebraska), and Keira Bumiller (Chesterfield, Missouri).
After Wednesday's opener, SIUE returns home for the home opener against Valparaiso Sunday at 1 p.m.
