Cal Opens Season at Home Against Cal Baptist, Travels to Santa Clara

Cal Opens Season at Home Against Cal Baptist, Travels to Santa Clara

Golden Bears Begin 2026 Campaign With Home Opener, Bay Area Road Test

The California women's soccer team opens the 2026 season at home against California Baptist on Wednesday before hitting the road to face Santa Clara on Sunday. 

MATCH INFORMATION

Cal Baptist

  • Date and Time: Wednesday, August 12th at 4 p.m.
  • Location: Berkeley, CA – Edwards Stadium
  • Live Stream: ACCNX
  • Live Stats

Santa Clara

  • Date and Time: Sunday, August 16 at 1 p.m.
  • Location: Santa Clara, CA – Stevens Stadium- Buck Shaw Field
  • Live Stream: ESPN+
  • Live Stats

YEAR 3
Cal enters its third year in the ACC and was picked to finish 10th in the 2026 Preseason ACC Women's Soccer Coaches Poll. The ACC remains among the top conferences in the sport, with nine ACC teams advancing to the second round of the NCAA Championship last year. Cal will look to build on last year's ACC campaign, which featured several strong results against conference opponents. 
 

2025 RECAP
Cal posted an overall record of 8-3-8 and a 4-2-4 mark in ACC play. The Bears finished eighth among 17 teams in the highly competitive ACC, narrowly missing a top-six finish and a spot in the conference tournament.

Cal earned a pair of ranked draws, battling No. 1 Virginia at home and No. 7 Florida State on the road to identical 2-2 results. Florida St. went on to win the national championship. Cal recorded eight draws, including several against elite competition, but ultimately finished just outside the field for an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. 

Standout performers included forward Lumi Kostmayer, who emerged as the Bears' primary offensive threat and led the team across all major attacking categories. Kostmayer has since continued her career professionally in Denmark. Goalkeeper Teagan Wy anchored Cal defensively, helping the Bears navigate a number of tightly contested matches before being selected by Gotham FC. 
 

NEW FACES, FAMILIAR CORE
Cal enters the 2026 season with a mix of experience and new talent, returning 17 members of its 2025 roster -  including six regular starters -  while welcoming a talented freshman class to Berkeley.

Leading the group of returners is senior forward Soleil Dimry, who led the team with three game-winners and ranked second with four goals. Dimry also scored an 88th-minute equalizer to earn a draw against No. 1 Virginia. 

The backline is headlined by a veteran group of Malia McMahon, Reese Doherty and Miriam Hils. McMahon held down the center back position, logging the sixth-most minutes on the team, while adding a pair of goals. She scored a memorable header off a corner kick to seal the win against Santa Clara. Doherty was one of just four Bears to start in all 19 matches last season, contributing heavily on the defensive side while adding two assists. Hils proved to be a versatile contributor, playing virtually every position on the field. She appeared and started in 17 matches, and contributed two assists during the 2025 season. 

With an experienced core, returning across the field, the Bears will look to pair that familiarity with a talented group of newcomers as the 2026 season gets underway. 


ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
Cal was recognized on the 2025-26 College Team Academic Award Winners List after posting a 3.31 team GPA last season. 
 

STAY POSTED
For complete coverage of Cal women's soccer, follow the Bears on X (@CalWSoc), Instagram (@calwsoc) and Facebook (@Cal Women's Soccer).

-CalBears.com-

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