BALTIMORE – Notre Dame of Maryland athletics kicks off the 2026-27 athletic year this week as men's soccer, women's soccer, and volleyball all embark on new campaigns.
WOMEN'S SOCCER
Sept. 1 vs. Widener at 4 p.m. at the Turf Field Sponsored by the SSNDs
Sept. 5 at Goucher at 1 p.m.
The Gators women's soccer team is the first NDMU team to compete in Fall 2026, doing so tomorrow afternoon at 4 p.m. as they host Widener at the Turf Field Sponsored by the SSNDs.
Picked seventh in the United East Preseason Poll, the Gators are looking for redemption from last year's match in Pennsylvania where Widener claimed a 3-0 win. The Pride will be an early test for the Gators as they went 7-7-4 last season and were picked to finish fifth in the MAC Preseason Poll.
The Gators cap off opening week by traveling to Goucher to face the Gophers at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
Last season, the Gophers claimed a 2-1 win over NDMU; the Gators are 0-11 all-time versus Goucher but look to break that streak against the team picked to finish 10
th in the Landmark Conference Preseason Poll.
Alex Busick, who was an All-United East Third Team as a freshman, spearheads the Gators' attack after tallying ten goals in her rookie season, including nine goal contributions in her final five games.
The Gators are led by head coach
Nathan Rauscher, who enters his fifth season in charge of the Gators Women's Soccer Program with a 32-49-3 career record.
WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
Sept. 1 vs. Washington at 7 p.m. inside the MBK Sports Complex
Sept. 5 at Hood at 11 a.m.
Sept. 5 vs. Shenandoah at 1 p.m. (Hosted by Hood)
The Gators Women's Volleyball program opens their 2026 season at home, hosting Washington College tomorrow evening at 7 p.m. inside the MBK Sports Complex.
The Gators are looking to avenge their three-set loss to the Shorewomen last season in Chestertown; the Gators are 1-1 all-time in this series on their home court; Washington is coming off an 18-10 season in 2025.
The Gators then travel to Frederick on Saturday to compete in the Hood College Tri-Match, which sees them face the Blazers before turning around to play Shenandoah.
NDMU is 7-4 all-time against Hood, having won the last three contest; last season, the Gators swept Hood inside the MBK Sports Complex.
The Gators are 2-1 all-time versus Shenandoah, though this weekend's match represents the first meeting in this series since 2019. The Hornets are sixth in the ODAC Preseason Poll after finishing 2025 with a 13-11 overall record.
Last season, NDMU went 16-7 overall and 7-3 in conference play; picked sixth in the United East Preseason Poll, the Gators return a pair of All-United East players in
Kaliyah Brown and
Izzy Stewart.
Entering his 20
th season leading the Gators Women's Volleyball program,
Henry DeTitta has amassed a 259-207 overall record.
MEN'S SOCCER
Sept. 5 vs. Goucher at 1 p.m. at the Turf Field Sponsored by the SSNDs
The Gators Men's Soccer program is the final fall sport to begin their season, doing so on Saturday when they host Goucher at 1 p.m. at the Turf Field Sponsored by the SSNDs.
Entering their fourth year of existence, the Gators are coming off their best season yet, which was highlighted by a 4-2-2 record in conference play as they finished fourth in the United East.
Picked seventh in the United East Preseason Poll, the Gators all three of their all-conference selections in
Tassilo Lehmkuhl (First Team),
Athanasios Ziliaskopoulos (Third Team) and
Martin Rasiwala (Third Team).
The Gators are winless against the Gophers in three attempts, with the last two matches being one-goal decisions. Goucher was picked seventh in the Landmark Conference Preseason Poll after they went 9-8-3 in 2025.
Frank Olszewski, entering his 41
st season as a head coach, has a 352-287-72 overall record, making him the 26
th-most winningest coach among all active NCAA coaches and tenth in Division III.
