Women's Soccer 8/25/2026 10:00:00 AM Chris Brannick

Soccer Kicks Off In Edmond

Bronchos Host Minnesota State, Augustana On Opening Weekend

EDMOND – Central Oklahoma opens the 2026 season Friday night at Tom Thompson Field with a non-conference match against preseason No. 15 Minnesota State.

The Bronchos open with two home contests this weekend. After hosting the Mavericks from Mankato, Minnesota on Friday night, Central will welcome Augustana of Sioux Falls, South Dakota for a noon Sunday kickoff.

"We're excited to get the season started," UCO head women's soccer coach Amel Muhamedagic said. "We've had a lot of time to train and get in the best position to go out and compete and now it's time to do it.

"We have two tough opponents," Muhamedagic continued. "The MIAA is really tough and we feel like a tough non-conference schedule only helps us. So it'll be a challenge this weekend but we're just excited to get it going."

In two years as head coach, Muhamedagic has led the Bronchos to a 22-13-9 overall record, two trips to the MIAA Championship final, and one NCAA regional. Though this is just year three as head coach, Muhamedagic has been with the program since 2007. The Bronchos are 241-110-48 in 19 seasons with Muhamedagic on the staff.

This year he brings back 15 players with experience, including 11 that started last season.

Senior midfielder Emma Nicholas has played in every game (63) over the past three seasons and is a two-time All-MIAA selection. The Tulsa native has five assists and one goal in her career that includes more than 4,000 minutes played.

Junior forward Caleah Carter has also played in every game (44) over the past two seasons and is also an All-MIAA pick and an All-Region pick. Carter has eight goals and six assists in two seasons and has already played more than 2,600 minutes.

Central Oklahoma will lean on experience with sixth-year veteran Megan Wilson, who also earned All-Region last year. Seniors Claire Mullen and Izzy Van Zanten bring a combined 100 games played.

Defensively, UCO allowed just 0.90 goals per game last season and the experience will be key in doing that again in 2026. Wilson, Kaitlyn Cotton, and Sophia Gaskins anchor the back line that can hold off chances. Central will have a new look in goal and will rely on the defense to limit attacks.

Minnesota State is ranked No. 15 in the country in the United Soccer Coaches' Preseason poll. The Mavericks were picked to win the Northern Sun with 13 first-place votes of 16 league head coaches. The perennial power from the north has been to every NCAA Regional since 2011 and was the 2024 NCAA national runner-up.

UCO is 2-3-1 all-time against MSU. The Bronchos dropped the first three contests against the Mavericks in 2012, 2014, and 2015. Central got the best of Minnesota State in 2018 in the national tournament, then won a neutral-site matchup in Joplin in 2022.

Last season in Mankato, Minnesota, the teams played to a scoreless draw in the season opener. UCO is 1-1-0 in Edmond against MSU.

Central Oklahoma will also host Augustana on Sunday at noon. The Bronchos are 1-2-0 against the Vikings, including a 3-1 loss last year at Mankato on opening weekend. UCO lost 2-1 to Augie in Mankato in the 2019 national tournament and won 1-0 over Augustana in the 2014 national tournament.

Augustana was picked fourth in the NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll.

Central Oklahoma will travel to Oklahoma Baptist Sept. 4 and Midwestern State Sept. 6 as the new season gets rolling. The Bronchos return home against Southern Nazarene on Sept. 9 at Tom Thompson Field in Edmond.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#8 Caleah Carter: F; 5' 6"; Junior

#16 Kaitlyn Cotton: MF; 5' 10"; Junior

#6 Sophia Gaskins: D; 6' 0"; Sophomore

#25 Claire Mullen: MF; 5' 4"; Senior

#3 Emma Nicholas: MF; 5' 4"; Senior

#14 Izzy Van Zanten: MF; 5' 7"; Senior

#12 Megan Wilson: D; 5' 8"; Graduate Student

Players Mentioned

#8 Caleah Carter
: 5' 6"; Junior
: F

#16 Kaitlyn Cotton
: 5' 10"; Junior
: MF

#6 Sophia Gaskins
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: D

#25 Claire Mullen
: 5' 4"; Senior
: MF

#3 Emma Nicholas
: 5' 4"; Senior
: MF

#14 Izzy Van Zanten
: 5' 7"; Senior
: MF

#12 Megan Wilson
: 5' 8"; Graduate Student
: D