DENVER, Colo. – The Regis University Women's Soccer team begins their highly anticipated return to the pitch for the 2026 season when they open the fall this week.
A preseason breakdown of the team and additional information can be found below:
HOW LAST YEAR ENDED
The Rangers played to a 10-5-4 record this last season with them reaching as far as the RMAC Tournament and finishing the regular season in fifth place of the conference standings.
The team's 10 wins were the fourth time they have recorded double digit victories in the last five years and was a four-game improvement from their six-win season in 2024.
The Rangers received votes in the United Soccer Coaches poll multiple times last season while being ranked as high as No. 25 in the nation and were one of just five RMAC schools to be recognized in the USC polls throughout the fall.
In facing off against ranked opponents, the Rangers went 2-3 in their five games with their two upset victories being against No. 21 Seattle Pacific University and No. 9 Colorado School of Mines, both by a score of 2-1.
Following the end of the season six different players earned All-RMAC nods while one also earned a spot on the Academic All-RMAC First Team. In addition, 11 players were named to the RMAC Honor Roll, six were honored on the CSC Academic All-District Team and the team as a whole won the RMAC Brechler Award for having the best GPA in the conference for women's soccer.
On the stats side, the Rangers finished the season scoring 32 goals, tied for third most in the conference, while averaging just over 1.6 per game.
They finished top five in shots taken, points, assists and saves for the RMAC while being assessed just nine cards all year.
THIS YEAR'S SCHEDULE
A total of 18 games are on the slate for this fall with 12 of them being at home at the Regis Turf Fields, including the first eight in a row.
In breaking down of the games, there will be six nonconference matchups before 12 straight RMAC competitions. Most games of the conference schedule will play to a Friday/Sunday basis.
Postseason play will begin after the conclusion of the regular season with the RMAC Tournament first round action beginning on Oct. 30th. The top eight teams from the conference will make the tournament with the conference tournament winner getting an automatic bid into the NCAA Regional Tournament.
On this year's schedule four different teams are either ranked or receiving votes from the United Soccer Coaches Poll as well with Dallas Baptist being the first one the Rangers will face who comes in as the preseason No. 5 team in the nation. The RMAC teams of UCCS, Colorado School of Mines and Colorado Mesa were the other schools included in the poll/voting.
THIS YEAR'S TEAM
Returners: 22
Newcomers: 11 (7 Freshman, 4 Transfers)
A total of 33 players make up this year's squad while returning a bulk of last year's key contributors including five All-RMAC performers. Those five include Fernanda Rodriguez and Elsa Nolen who were both Second Team All-RMAC selections in 2025 and the trio of Helen Stegner, Brooke Castillo and Gianna Sparaco who were all Honorable Mention picks.
Rodriguez and Nolen return to bolster the offense from that group with the pair combining for 14 goals and 11 assists. Rodriguez was the team's points leader with eight goals and seven assists herself; Nolen led the team with three game-winners.
In the net, Stegner served as the team's main goalkeeper starting 16 games and recording 68 saves. She allowed just 16 goals on the year while being a part of two shutouts and having one solo shutout as well.
The final two returning all-conference performers include Castillo and Sparaco who were both two of the team's top minutes holders with both having over 1,000 played and Sparaco leading the team with 1,601 alone. Castillo served as a key midfielder for the team with two goals and three assists while Sparaco added one assist as one of the team's main defenders.
Beyond that group, a number of other impactful players will return to see time on the pitch with Elsie Miller, Mya Pasion, Malia Salema, Emma Attwood, Andie Rylance, Brielle Bickham, Alysah Messenger and Avery Van Natter all coming back after each of them played in 15 games or more last season.
Addy Borgmeier, Bridget Hankins, Aaliah Barwick, Paige Davis, and Renata Larracilla will all look to step in to larger roles for the team as well.
Goalkeepers Maggie Payne, Sierra Rosetta and Campbell Appert join Stegner in the net with all having potential to see time after four different players appeared last season. Payne saw the most time out of that group with her seeing action in seven games last year.
For the newcomers, there are just four that have transferred in from other schools with the other seven being freshmen.
The four transfers include Paula Igual (Heartland CC), Blake Plummer (University of Northern British Columbia), Davian Dix (Utah State University Eastern) and Brooklyn Bailey (Westminster University).
As for the freshmen, the seven others are Rosetta, Brianna Bailey, Quinn Quinabo, Madisyn Meyers, Addysen Gasser, Gaby Ramirez and Lexie Hinton.
Overall, there are three different countries and 11 different states represented on this year's team with just three of them hailing from Colorado.
COACHING HISTORY
Head Coach Jeff Frykholm returns to lead the Rangers once again this season with this being his fifth at the helm and sixth overall. He currently owns a record of 42-27-10 while having the third most wins in program history.
He has led the team to the RMAC Tournament in every season he's been the head coach so far while reaching the quarterfinals in three of them and the championship game in 2022.
To his name, there have been 21 different All-RMAC selections with four All-Region picks as well.
Joining to aide Head Coach Frykholm's efforts are assistant coach Luke Meadows who's in his fifth season and Dani Hansen and Josh Dworsky who are both volunteer coaches.
IN THE POLLS
The Rangers were predicted to finish fifth in this year's RMAC Preseason Coaches Poll with this being the highest they've been voted since the 2024 season.
In the poll, RU garnered 98 points for their fifth-place spot with them being picked two spots higher than last year.
In addition to the voting, the pair of Fernanda Rodriguez and Elsa Nolen were also selected as members of the Preseason All-RMAC squad which is determined by placing returning players in order of head coaches' voting from the league's 2025 All-RMAC Teams.
HOW TO WATCH
All streaming for Regis University games will occur through the RMAC Network through their pay per view plan.
Purchasing options can be done on a game-by-game basis, a monthly pass or through an all-access pass that gives you the ability to watch all sports and events regardless of the season.
Attached below is a step-by-step guide on how to purchase:
RMAC Network Purchasing Step-by-Step
- Visit http://www.RMACNetwork.com/Purchase and click on the link next to the subscription you wish to purchase.
- If you previously had an account with HUDL, log in using that account. If you are a new user, click Create Account below the blue Continue button.
- Once you are logged in with your account, the subscription you chose will appear under Step 1: Select Purchase Option.
- If you have a promo code, enter it in the box and click apply.
- Click Next to proceed to Step 2: Select Payment Option.
- If you previously had an account, you will have the ability to select a previous payment method.
- If you do not have a previous payment method, select next to proceed to Step 3: Payment Information and enter your payment information.
- Click next to proceed to Step 4: Verify Your Purchase. Select the Team you are supporting with your purchase and click the box next to "I have read and agree to the Terms of Use.
- Click submit to complete your purchase!
