Women's Soccer 11/7/2026 2:30:00 PM

First Round of 2026 Patriot League Women’s Soccer Championship Begins on Sunday

No. 3 Holy Cross welcomes No. 6 Loyola Maryland; No. 4 Boston University hosts No. 5 Bucknell

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The six-field 2026 Patriot League Women’s Soccer Championship begins with a pair of first-round games on Sunday, Nov. 8.

No. 6 Loyola Maryland will travel to Worcester, Mass. to play No. 3 Holy Cross at noon, while No. 5 Bucknell heads to No. 3 Boston University for a 1 p.m. tilt. Both games will be streamed on ESPN+.

The lowest-remaining seed will advance to the semifinals on Wednesday, Nov. 11, to play No. 1 Navy at 12 p.m., while the highest-advancing seed will battle defending Patriot League champion and No. 2 Army West Point at 6 p.m.

The 2026 Patriot League Women’s Soccer Championship Game will be played on Sunday, Nov. 15 at a time to be announced. The site for the title game will be the highest-remaining seed.

All five games of the 2026 Patriot League Women’s Soccer Championship will be available on ESPN+.

For more information, visit the 2026 Patriot League Women’s Soccer Championship page by CLICKING HERE.

Championship Game - Sunday, Nov. 15
Lowest-remaining seed at Highest-remaining seed

Women’s Soccer Postseason Major Award Winners in First Round
Forward of the Year – Kat Slott, Boston University, Sr., F
Midfielder of the Year – Sam Halligan, Holy Cross, Fifth Year, M

Women’s Soccer Postseason All-League Honorees in First Round
Boston University: Kat Slott (First Team), Helene Tyburczy (First Team), Ciara Kennedy (Second Team), Samantha Ryan (Second Team), Olivia Avellar (Third Team), Georgia Prouty (Third Team), Nina Tzouganatos (Third Team)
Bucknell: Gaby Parker (Second Team), Emma Gavin (Second Team), Sarah McFarland (Second Team), Ingrid Murphy (Third Team), Julia Palitti (Third Team)
Holy Cross: Sam Halligan (First Team), Abby Cushing (Second Team), Karenna Beckstein (Second Team), Ava Graham (Third Team), Caroline Bierfeldt (Third Team)
Loyola Maryland: Betzael Contreras (Second Team), Hannah Goetzer (Third Team)

NO. 6 LOYOLA MARYLAND GREYHOUNDS (3-4-10, 3-3-3 PL) AT NO. 3 HOLY CROSS CRUSADERS (9-6-3, 5-2-2 PL)
LIVE STATS | ESPN+
GAME PREVIEWS: HOLY CROSS | LOYOLA MARYLAND

Regular-Season Meeting (Oct. 10, 2026): Loyola Maryland 2, at Holy Cross 1 | BOX SCORE
WORCESTER, Mass. – In the Patriot League opener, Loyola Maryland picked up a 2-1 road victory over Holy Cross as sophomore forward Savannah Manset netted the game-winning goal in the 77th minute at Linda Johnson Smith Soccer Stadium.

Greyhounds’ freshman defender Francesca Curatolo put Loyola Maryland ahead 1-0 in the fifth minute, before Holy Cross senior forward Karenna Beckstein converted a penalty kick in the 76th minute to tie the game at 1-1.

Loyola Maryland senior goalkeeper Hannah Goezter finished with six saves in the victory, while Holy Cross junior goalkeeper Antriana Mila made three saves.

Postseason History: Holy Cross and Loyola Maryland will meet for the first time in Patriot League Championship history. The Crusaders are making their seventh overall and second straight postseason appearance in program history, while the Greyhounds are back in the championship for the eighth time since joining the League in 2013.

NO. 5 BUCKNELL BISON (7-8-3, 4-3-2 PL) AT NO. 4 BOSTON UNIVERSITY TERRIERS (8-8-2, 5-3-1 PL)
LIVE STATS | ESPN+
GAME PREVIEWS: BOSTON UNIVERSITY | BUCKNELL

Regular-Season Meeting (Oct. 10, 2026): Bucknell 2, at Boston University 1 | BOX SCORE
BOSTON, Mass. – Sophomore forward Gaby Parker recorded her first career two-goal game to lift Bucknell to 2-1 road-win on Oct. 10 at Nickerson Field.

Parker’s 61st-minute goal snapped a 1-1 tie, as Terriers’ senior midfielder Samantha Aronson evened the game in the 39th minute with a penalty kick.

Bucknell freshman goalkeeper Sarah McFarland finished with six saves and an assist on Parker’s opening goal in the ninth minute, while Boston University goalkeepers Bridget Carr (Jr.) and Jill Humphreys (So.) combined to make two saves.

Postseason History: Boston University and Bucknell will square off for the fifth time Patriot League Championship history, however, it marks the first time the programs meet in the first round. The Terriers and Bison are tied 2-2 in the series history, with each team splitting their semifinal and championship game matchups.

2015: No. 1 Boston University 1, No. 2 Bucknell 0 – Championship
2016: No. 1 Bucknell 2, No. 2 Boston U. 1 (OT) – Championship
2017: No. 2 Bucknell 1, No. 3 Boston U. 0 – Semifinals
2023: No. 4 Boston University 1, No. 2 Bucknell 3 – Semifinals

ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its fourth decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League’s athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes who are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.