2026 Schedules

[jknezek]

W&L women's soccer team lists Batten for VWU. I had to look at it a few times to figure it out. That's going to take some getting used to. Men's soccer still had it listed as VWU. Could not figure out who Batten was and why it was listed as an ODAC game until I looked at the location.

Yes, I know VWU rebranded, I just wasn't thinking about it and it kind of shocked me.

[Kuiper]

Some NESCAC schedules

Williams

NESCAC teams often start playing conference games early in the season, even from Opening Day, but I don't think I've see a team play three straight NESCAC games to start the season (Bates, Hamilton, and Trinity).  On the other hand, Williams started last season with Wheaton (MA) and then played Tufts (which it beat 3-1!), Hamilton, and Amherst, so this year looks quite a bit less intimidating (especially given how good Wheaton turned out to be last year). In terms of non-conference games, Williams trades Union and Western Connecticut (which it tied 3-3), for Gordon and Hartford.  Starting the season with some of the lower NESCAC teams may come back to bit them in 2026 since they end with Wesleyan, Tufts, and Middlebury.

Middlebury

Middlebury trades out Bridgewater State, St. Lawrence, Thomas, and Vassar for the US Merchant Marine Academy, Endicott, RPI, and Maine Maritime Academy.  I would say that's a downgrade, but St. Lawrence turned out to be a down year and they beat Vassar 4-2, while Endicott is capable of rising to the occasion (including tying Wheaton last season) and USMMA went 12-4-3 last season, while RPI is probably due for a turnaround.  One conference advantage for Middlebury is that they don't have a two NESCAC game weekend.