Notre Dame of Maryland University opens 2026-27 with women’s soccer, women’s volleyball and men’s soccer beginning new campaigns during the week of Aug. 31-Sept. 5, 2026. The Gators will play six games during the opening week, including home contests against Widener, Washington and Goucher.
Notre Dame of Maryland University Women’s Soccer Opens Sept. 1
Notre Dame of Maryland University women’s soccer will be the first Gators team to compete, hosting Widener on Sept. 1 at 4 p.m. at the Turf Field Sponsored by the SSNDs. The Gators were picked seventh in the United East Preseason Poll, while Widener went 7-7-4 last season and was picked fifth in the MAC Preseason Poll.
Widener defeated the Gators 3-0 in Pennsylvania last season. Notre Dame of Maryland University women’s soccer will then visit Goucher on Sept. 5 at 1 p.m. Goucher defeated the Gators 2-1 last season, and the Gators are 0-11 all-time against Goucher, which was picked 10th in the Landmark Conference Preseason Poll.
Alex Busick earned All-United East Third Team honors as a freshman after scoring 10 goals in her rookie season, including nine goal contributions in her final five games. Nathan Rauscher is entering his fifth season as the Gators women’s soccer head coach and has a 32-49-3 career record.
Women’s Volleyball Begins at Home
Notre Dame of Maryland University women’s volleyball will open its season Sept. 1 against Washington at 7 p.m. inside the MBK Sports Complex. The Gators are 1-1 all-time against Washington at home, and Washington went 18-10 in 2025.
On Sept. 5, the Gators will play Hood at 11 a.m. and Shenandoah at 1 p.m. in a Hood-hosted tri-match. Notre Dame of Maryland University is 7-4 all-time against Hood and has won the last three contests, including a sweep inside the MBK Sports Complex last season.
The Gators are 2-1 all-time against Shenandoah, with the upcoming match being the first meeting in the series since 2019. Shenandoah was picked sixth in the ODAC Preseason Poll after finishing 2025 with a 13-11 overall record.
Notre Dame of Maryland University went 16-7 overall and 7-3 in conference play last season and was picked sixth in the United East Preseason Poll. Kaliyah Brown and Izzy Stewart return as All-United East players, while Henry DeTitta is entering his 20th season leading the Gators women’s volleyball program with a 259-207 overall record.
Men’s Soccer Hosts Goucher
Notre Dame of Maryland University men’s soccer will open its season Sept. 5 against Goucher at 1 p.m. at the Turf Field Sponsored by the SSNDs. The Gators men’s soccer program is entering its fourth year of existence after going 4-2-2 in United East Conference play last season and finishing fourth in the conference.
The Gators were picked seventh in the United East Preseason Poll. Tassilo Lehmkuhl, Athanasios Ziliaskopoulos and Martin Rasiwala were the Gators’ all-conference selections last season, earning First Team, Third Team and Third Team honors, respectively.
Notre Dame of Maryland University is winless against Goucher in three attempts. Goucher was picked seventh in the Landmark Conference Preseason Poll after going 9-8-3 in 2025. Frank Olszewski is entering his 41st season as a head coach and has a 352-287-72 overall record.
Opening Week Schedule
- Sept. 1: Notre Dame of Maryland University women’s soccer vs. Widener, 4 p.m., Turf Field Sponsored by the SSNDs.
- Sept. 1: Notre Dame of Maryland University women’s volleyball vs. Washington, 7 p.m., MBK Sports Complex.
- Sept. 5: Notre Dame of Maryland University women’s soccer at Goucher, 1 p.m.
- Sept. 5: Notre Dame of Maryland University women’s volleyball at Hood, 11 a.m.
- Sept. 5: Notre Dame of Maryland University women’s volleyball vs. Shenandoah, 1 p.m., hosted by Hood.
- Sept. 5: Notre Dame of Maryland University men’s soccer vs. Goucher, 1 p.m., Turf Field Sponsored by the SSNDs.
Maryland Sports Blog Take
Notre Dame of Maryland University gives its three featured programs six opportunities to begin the 2026-27 athletic year during opening week. Women’s soccer and women’s volleyball start Sept. 1, while men’s soccer begins Sept. 5.
The schedule includes early rematches for women’s soccer against Widener and Goucher, along with a women’s volleyball tri-match against Hood and Shenandoah. Men’s soccer also opens against Goucher after the Gators’ fourth-place United East finish last season.
Source: Original report
