ROCHESTER, Mich. - Oakland Women's Soccer has unveiled its 2026 schedule, featuring 18 regular-season matches, nine home contests at the Oakland Soccer Field and an exciting Horizon League slate. The Golden Grizzlies will face six non-conference opponents before opening league play in pursuit of another postseason run.

Season Opens at Mercyhurst

Following the annual Black and Gold Scrimmage on Aug. 5 and exhibition contests at Western Michigan (Aug. 8) and Akron (Aug. 16), Oakland officially opens the 2026 regular season on the road at Mercyhurst on Aug. 13. The Golden Grizzlies aim to repeat one of the games of the year last season against the Lakers, where Brae Cole scored a hat trick en route to a 4-2 Oakland win.

Oakland will face off against Akron (Aug. 16) on the road before returning to Rochester for the home opener.

Home Opener 

The Golden Grizzlies make their home debut on Aug. 20, welcoming Bowling Green to Rochester for the first regular-season match at Oakland Soccer Field. Oakland remains home four days later to host Toledo on Aug. 27 before a one-game road stint to Kent State (Sept. 3), before returning home again on Sept. 6 against Rochester Christian for Senior Day. 
Oakland's first Horizon League test will come at home as well, with Cleveland State visiting the OU Soccer Field on Sept. 19.

Road Test Features Playoff Rematch at Milwaukee

Conference play quickly intensifies as Oakland embarks on a two-match Wisconsin road trip, beginning with a postseason rematch at Milwaukee on Sept. 24. The Golden Grizzlies and Panthers squared off in the second round of the Horizon League Championship in 2025, where Oakland fell just short in the match.

Oakland will then travel to Green Bay on Sept. 27 before returning home to face Youngstown State on Oct. 1 in another matchup between teams that met during the 2025 Horizon League Championship. In the 2025 postseason Mallory Anderson's extra-time goal sealed Oakland's first Horizon League Tournament win since 2021.

Final Stretch Sets Stage for Postseason

October features a demanding conference slate as Oakland hosts Robert Morris on Oct. 4 before traveling to Purdue Fort Wayne (Oct. 10), IU Indianapolis (Oct. 15) and Northern Illinois (Oct. 18). The Golden Grizzlies return home for their final three games at home, facing Wright State (Oct. 22), Northern Kentucky (Oct. 25), and Detroit Mercy (Oct. 31).

Metro Series Rivalry Closes Regular Season

The regular season concludes on Oct. 31 when Oakland hosts Detroit Mercy in the annual Metro Series rivalry matchup. The Halloween showdown will serve as the final regular-season contest before the Horizon League Championship, with postseason seeding on the line.

The Golden Grizzlies clinched their postseason spot against the Titans last season, forcing a 2-2 tie on the road on the final day of the regular season. 

See the full 2026 Oakland Women's Soccer schedule below:
Aug. 5 - Black & Gold Scrimmage - TBD
Aug. 8 - at Western Michigan - 1 PM ET
Aug. 13 - at Mercyhurst - TBD
Aug. 16 - at Akron - 1 PM ET
Aug. 23 - vs Bowling Green State - 7 PM ET
Aug. 27 - vs Toledo - 2:30 PM ET
Sept. 3 - at Kent State - 6 PM ET
Sept. 6 - vs Rochester Christian - 7 PM ET
Sept. 10 - at Valparaiso - 7 PM CT
Sept. 19 - vs Cleveland State - 7 PM ET
Sept. 24 - at Milwaukee - 6 PM CT
Sept. 27 - at Green Bay - 1 PM CT
Oct. 1 - vs Youngstown State - 7 PM ET
Oct. 4 - vs Robert Morris - 1 PM ET
Oct. 10 - at Purdue Fort Wayne - 7 PM ET
Oct. 18 - at Northern Illinois - 1 PM CT
Oct. 22 - vs Wright State - 7 PM ET
Oct. 25 - vs Northern Kentucky - 1 PM ET
Oct. 31 - vs Detroit Mercy - 7 PM ET