Blue Demons Face NIU to Open Season

The time to defend home turf starts now, as DePaul women's soccer ushers in its 2026 season at Wish Field on Sunday, Aug. 16, hosting Northern Illinois (NIU) in the regular-season opener. The Blue Demons and Huskies are set to kick off at 4 p.m. CT, with live coverage on ESPN+. Admission is free to all matches.

Sunday's contest serves as the 10th all-time meeting between the two Illinois-based teams, with the Huskies claiming the last meeting 1-0 at home. NIU, led by fifth-year head coach Michael O'Neill, returns 17 players in 2026, including Julianna Hill, Jordin Kadiri and Lauren Mrugala, who each scored one goal last season, when the team went 4-10-3 overall.

This season, NIU already has 90 minutes under its belt, having opened with a 2-1 midweek loss at Illinois State. In that match, NIU midfielder Mckenna Campbell-Turkalj gave the Huskies the early advantage, but the Redbirds evened the score and took the lead, handing NIU its first loss.

On the Blue Demon side, the program enters the season looking to improve on its 4-12-2 record from last season. Despite the tough 2025 schedule, the Blue Demons achieved notable results. In their third regular-season match of 2025, DePaul shut out Purdue on the road, 2-0, earning its first victory and clean sheet over the Boilermakers in program history, as well as the first Power Five win since 2019.

Last season's squad also added another win to a growing streak against Seton Hall, defeating the Pirates 2-1 on the road to record its 13^th straight win over its conference opponent. The 2025 campaign ended with a 2-2 draw against Providence on Senior Day.

This year's DePaul roster, guided by sixth-year head coach Michele O'Brien, third-year associate head coach Brendan Roth and fourth-year assistant coach Peter McKeown, includes key players in goalkeeper Mason Hillery, forward Mya Gardner, and midfielders Danielle Fjeldsted and Shayna da Silva. Hillery returns between the posts for her senior season after racking up 29 saves in 11 matches in 2025, while Gardner recorded two goals and one assist in eight matches. Fjeldsted comes into 2026 after posting three goals last season, and Illinois native da Silva provides critical production off the bench, recording three assists in 2025.

Returning a strong core from last season, DePaul will also benefit from 12 newcomers, including two talented attackers in sophomore Sophia Holtzman and freshman Katelyn Haiser.
Holtzman, an Illinois native and FGCU transfer, brings attacking capabilities to the Blue Demons after scoring four goals in 11 matches in the 2025 season at FGCU. Haiser arrives in Lincoln Park following an impressive high school career featuring 49 goals and 14 assists across just two seasons.

With a blend of veterans and newcomers leading the charge, DePaul will clash with the Huskies in the first of two matches played at Wish Field before the road schedule begins.

UP NEXT
The Blue Demons will remain at home to host Denver on Thursday, Aug. 20. Kickoff at Wish Field is set for 4 p.m. CT with coverage carried on ESPN+.

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For all the latest information on DePaul Women's Soccer, visit DePaulBlueDemons.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Blue Demons on X, Instagram and Facebook.

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Players Mentioned

Shayna da Silva

Danielle Fjeldsted

Mya Gardner

Katelyn Haiser

Mason Hillery

Sophia Holtzman

DePaul University Athletics