The #9 Middlebury women’s soccer team opens the 2026 campaign on Saturday, September 5 at Wesleyan. The Panthers come off an impressive 2025 season that included a spot in the NESCAC semifinals and hosting duties for the opening and sectional rounds of the NCAA Tournament. Gigi Day, Stella Espinasse, Olivia Irwin-Pokorny and Chloe Swindle will serve as the team’s captains.

Tessa Broderick and Wynne Braemer anchor a defense that ranked second in the conference with a .550 goals-against average (GAA) and 11 goals allowed. Broderick led all players with 1,599 minutes over 20 games and 19 starts, while Braemer slotted third with 1,555 minutes and started 17 of 19 outings.

The Panther midfield features many familiar faces. Espinasse, an All-NESCAC First Team selection, tallied three assists and led the group in minutes (1,514). Day, who earned her second all-conference nod last year, tied for the team lead with three game-winning goals over nearly 1,500 minutes of game action. Swindle shared second on the squad in shots on goal (15) and added two helpers, one of which aided the second goal of Middlebury’s 2-1 victory over the University of Rochester in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Olivia Colby follows a strong rookie season, leading the Panthers with 12 points and six assists a campaign ago. Mia Feldman contributed three goals and a helper from the forward position and each tally was a game-winner, with two occurring in conference play against Hamilton and Bates.

Other key returners include goalie Frankie Marston and midfielder Taya McClennen. Middlebury also welcomes 11 first-year players to the squad.

Kim returns for his 23rd season at the helm of the program, owning a 246-84-52 record. Mark Sienko, who served as an assistant under Kim from 2015 to 2022, returns to the staff as an assistant coach. Jon Hammond and Dean English also rejoin the coaching staff, while the team welcomes assistant Corrigan Rayhill for the new campaign.