PORTLAND, Ore. —Lewis & Clark College women's soccer begins the 2026 season against the University of St. Thomas (Texas) on Friday at 5 p.m. before visiting Azusa Pacific University in California the following night.
 
NORTHWEST CONFERENCE PRESEASON POLL
 
Lewis & Clark was picked eighth in the 2026 Northwest Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll, receiving 16 points. The River Otters placed ahead of George Fox University, which received 13 points, and behind Willamette University, which received 25.
 
The University of Puget Sound leads the poll with 64 points and eight first-place votes. Pacific Lutheran University follows with 56 points and one first-place vote. Puget Sound and Pacific Lutheran shared the 2025 regular-season conference title. Linfield University ranks third with 46 points and Whitman College fourth with 44, matching their third- and fourth-place finishes last season. Pacific University (33), Whitworth University (27) and Willamette (25) complete the middle of the poll.
 
The conference regular-season champion earns the league's automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Tournament.
 
KEY RETURNERS
 
Senior forward Mischa Vanek led the River Otters in goals and shots in 2025. She scored three goals, attempted 32 shots and recorded 13 shots on goal in 20 games. Two of her goals came in conference play, against Whitman on Oct. 3 and Whitworth on Oct. 5.
 
Senior midfielder Grace Smith started all 20 games and logged 1,677 minutes. She scored two goals, one at Willamette on Oct. 11 and one against Willamette on Nov. 9. Smith converted the team's only penalty kick of the season in the Oct. 11 game.
 
Senior Iris Stutzman started 18 of 20 games and recorded 16 shots. She scored the game-winning goal against George Fox on Sept. 27 in a 1-0 victory.
 
Junior defender Ava Lazzara started 19 games and played 1,674 minutes. She was part of a back line that recorded five shutouts.
 
Sophomore forward Riley Yip scored two goals in 18 games as a first-year player. She scored against Northwest on Sept. 6 and Willamette on Oct. 11 and finished the season with five points.
 
THREE THINGS TO WATCH 

• Lewis & Clark opens conference play at home against Pacific before beginning a four-game road stretch. The River Otters visit George Fox on Sept. 13, Whitworth on Sept. 19, Whitman on Sept. 20 and Linfield on Sept. 26.
• The defending co-regular-season champions visit Griswold Stadium on the same weekend. Lewis & Clark hosts Pacific Lutheran on Oct. 3 and Puget Sound on Oct. 4, with both games scheduled for 2:45 p.m.
• The final three conference games include road contests against Puget Sound on Oct. 31 and Pacific Lutheran on Nov. 1. Lewis & Clark returns home to finish the regular season against Willamette on Nov. 8 at 1:45 p.m.