ASHLAND, Ohio -- Point Park women's soccer concludes a two-game road trip on Saturday in a matchup with No. 22-ranked Ashland at Ferguson Field at Dwight Schar Athletic Complex. Opening kick is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

LAST TIME OUT

The Pioneers (0-1-0), dropped their 2026 opener to Findlay on Thursday in a 2-0 result. The Oilers scored a penalty kick in the 18th minute before adding an insurance goal less than two minutes into the second half. 

Point Park managed to muster only two shots, both of which were on goal. Reigning MEC Freshman of the Year Rebecca Pihlgren tallied the team's first shot in the 80th minute, and Payton Gibney recorded an attempt in the 82nd. 

Riley Jones made the start for Point Park in net, recording a game-high three saves.

SCOUTING THE EAGLES

Ashland, ranked the 22nd team in NCAA Division II by the United Soccer Coaches, opened its 2026 campaign on Thursday in a 1-1 tie against No. 19 Grand Valley State in a matchup between two teams who qualified for the 2025 NCAA Division II playoffs.

Ella Schneider dented the twine for the Eagles in the 13th minute with Tessa Blain picking up the assist. Izzy Ezzone made six saves for AU. The Eagles were outshot 17-4 on Thursday, including being edged 7-3 in shots on goal.

The Eagles finished the 2025 season with a record of 14-3-5. Ashland won the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) Championship in 2025 before being eliminated in the second round of the NCAA Tournament by Missouri-St. Louis. Saturday's contest will be the first matchup between Point Park and Ashland.

PRESEASON POLL

Point Park was picked to place fourth in the Mountain East Conference North Division in the MEC Women's Soccer Preseason Poll. The Pioneers returned 19 players from the 2025 season, in which they qualified for the MEC Tournament, including the aforementioned Rebecca Pihlgren who was named 2025 MEC Freshman of the Year and First Team All-MEC.