DePaul University Athletics
Thursday, August 6
Valparaiso, Ind.
6 P.M. CT
DePaul University
at
Valparaiso
Blue Demons Set for Preseason Test at Valpo
8/5/2026 4:31:00 PM | WOMEN'S SOCCER
DePaul opens 2026 campaign in Northwest Indiana
VALPARAISO, Ind. – DePaul women's soccer opens its 2026 preseason slate on the road, visiting Valparaiso on Thursday, Aug. 6. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. CT at Brown Field.
Head coach Michele O'Brien enters her sixth season leading the Blue Demons, with associate head coach Brendan Roth and assistant coach Peter McKeown rounding out a staff that has now been together for three seasons. Roth returns to a familiar setting on Thursday, facing his alma mater Valparaiso, where he coached from 2012-16 and 2017-21 and played collegiately from 2007-11.
O'Brien's group is coming off a 2025 campaign that finished 4-12-2 and included a program-record six-goal outing in the season-opening rout of Chicago State, followed by a historic win over Purdue, DePaul's first ever victory over the Boilermakers and its first win over a Big Ten opponent since 2018.
The Blue Demons closed non-conference play with a 1-0 win over Eastern Michigan on a second-half penalty kick, then opened BIG EAST play with a 2-1 comeback victory at Seton Hall, extending DePaul's unbeaten streak against the Pirates to 13 matches. Forward Sienna Gonzales capped the season by earning All-BIG EAST Third Team honors, leading the team in shots, shots on goal and points.
DePaul returns 16 letterwinners, headlined by a six-member senior class entering its final season together: Mackenzie Lee, Shayna da Silva, Mya Gardner, Danielle Fjeldsted, Mason Hillery and Kristen Schwartz. The group has anchored the roster during a stretch that included the BIG EAST Team Academic Excellence Award for a third-straight season in 2024-25. The Blue Demons welcome 12 newcomers to the roster, including eight true freshmen and four transfers.
FOLLOW THE BLUE DEMONS
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.
Head coach Michele O'Brien enters her sixth season leading the Blue Demons, with associate head coach Brendan Roth and assistant coach Peter McKeown rounding out a staff that has now been together for three seasons. Roth returns to a familiar setting on Thursday, facing his alma mater Valparaiso, where he coached from 2012-16 and 2017-21 and played collegiately from 2007-11.
O'Brien's group is coming off a 2025 campaign that finished 4-12-2 and included a program-record six-goal outing in the season-opening rout of Chicago State, followed by a historic win over Purdue, DePaul's first ever victory over the Boilermakers and its first win over a Big Ten opponent since 2018.
The Blue Demons closed non-conference play with a 1-0 win over Eastern Michigan on a second-half penalty kick, then opened BIG EAST play with a 2-1 comeback victory at Seton Hall, extending DePaul's unbeaten streak against the Pirates to 13 matches. Forward Sienna Gonzales capped the season by earning All-BIG EAST Third Team honors, leading the team in shots, shots on goal and points.
DePaul returns 16 letterwinners, headlined by a six-member senior class entering its final season together: Mackenzie Lee, Shayna da Silva, Mya Gardner, Danielle Fjeldsted, Mason Hillery and Kristen Schwartz. The group has anchored the roster during a stretch that included the BIG EAST Team Academic Excellence Award for a third-straight season in 2024-25. The Blue Demons welcome 12 newcomers to the roster, including eight true freshmen and four transfers.
FOLLOW THE BLUE DEMONS
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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