Michigan
Utah Valley
DiIanni Era to Begin as Michigan Set to Open 2026 Season at Utah Valley
8/11/2026 1:30:00 PM | Women's Soccer
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan women's soccer team (0-0-0) will open the 2026 season with a road match this week, traveling to Orem, Utah, to face Utah Valley (0-0-0) on Thursday (Aug. 13) at 7 p.m. MT inside UCCU Stadium. The match will be streamed live on ESPN+.
• U-M begins the Dave DiIanni era, as the head coach enters his first season in Ann Arbor and 24th overall, as well as his 13th season coaching in the Big Ten. Joining DiIanni on the sidelines are assistant coaches Kyle Venter, JP Valadares and Addie Bundy, while Macy Enneking begins her first season as the program's director of operations.
• Ella Jablinskey, Campbell Jewell, and Ellie Fife headline the Wolverines featured on the Big Ten Players to Watch list this season, as Michigan enters the 2026 campaign looking to make an impact.
• Michigan welcomes 11 newcomers in 2026, including six freshmen and five transfers, to this season's roster. Freshmen Malia Zillman, Brooklyn Reid, Anabelle Egeland, Melisa Kekic, Torah Betteridge and Ellie Lesser will make their collegiate debuts. While transfers Brooklyn Marn (Ole Miss), Natelle El Mokbel (Long Beach State), Rylie McKinney (Marshall), Luciana Latino (Tennessee) and Ana Schremp (Colgate) begin their U-M careers.
• The two Wolverines will meet for the third time in program history, with the all-time series tied at 1-1. Thursday's matchup will mark the first meeting between Michigan and Utah Valley in Utah.
• Last season, Michigan posted a 6-8-4 overall record, including a 3-4-4 mark in Big Ten play, finishing 11th in the conference standings.
• U-M returns 14 members of the 2025 squad, highlighted by leading goal scorer Elle Ervin, who tallied seven goals last season, and assist leader Adi Walick, who recorded seven assists.
• The Maize and Blue's 2026 schedule features six non-conference games and a 12-game Big Ten slate in 2026; five opponents are ranked in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 poll in No. 2 Notre Dame, No. 7 Michigan State, No. 12 Washington, No. 17 Ohio State and No. 22 Wisconsin.
• The Wolverines will open their 2026 home schedule at U-M Soccer Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 22, welcoming Xavier for a 5 p.m. matchup.
