WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. — The West Liberty University women's soccer team will lean on experience in 2026, returning 16 players from last year's squad as the Hilltoppers look to build on a year of growth and take another step forward this fall.

Head coach Pete McMenemy welcomes back a group that gained significant playing experience a year ago, including several players who were freshmen last season and also saw action during the spring. "Honestly, really excited to have all of them back," McMenemy said. "We returned 16 players from last season. That gives us the consistency in terms of the squad that we're looking for."

That consistency extends beyond the field. McMenemy believes having so many players back allows the Hilltoppers to maintain the standards they have established within the program while continuing to develop their style of play. "All of these players had the opportunity to play a lot last season," he said. "They were also able to play in the spring, so in terms of having that consistency of the standards that we set as a program, I think that was really important to us."

The Hilltoppers are coming off a 4-14-1 season in which they went 2-11-1 in Mountain East Conference play. West Liberty scored 28 goals during the season while opponents scored 63.

McMenemy said improving defensively has been a major focus during the offseason, while the Hilltoppers also want to become more efficient when opportunities present themselves offensively. "Obviously, defensively when you conceded goals like we did last fall, we obviously wanted to try and make a point to not concede as many goals as that," McMenemy said. "We're not going to be able to concede that amount of goals if we want to be successful."

West Liberty also wants to turn its ability to create opportunities into more goals. The Hilltoppers recorded 170 shots and 98 shots on goal last season, averaging 8.9 shots per game. "Creating chances I don't think's been a problem for the side," McMenemy said. "It's maybe about executing and taking them."

The Hilltoppers believe the increased depth throughout the roster can help address both areas. McMenemy said West Liberty has added depth defensively while also bringing in players who can provide another dimension offensively. The result has been increased competition for playing time throughout the lineup. "We're in a position now where there's a lot of competition for places throughout the entire team," McMenemy said. "That can only be a good thing when it comes to deciding lineups."

That depth also gives McMenemy more flexibility to adjust his lineup based on an opponent's strengths and weaknesses. "We can look at strengths and weaknesses of opponents and we can adapt our lineup where necessary to help us," he said.

Among the experienced returners is junior Emma Lieu, who recorded two goals and four assists last season. Junior Abby Kightlinger added two goals, while sophomore Frida Lundberg scored once and added two assists. Sophomore Leah Paugh also scored twice in limited action. Junior Rylyn Bielinski, sophomore Kallie McCutcheon, sophomore Allie Callahan, sophomore Corinne Westbrook, sophomore Sophia Fisher, senior Isabella Guerra and sophomore Rylee Stottlemyer also return after contributing during the 2025 campaign.

The Hilltoppers have also added new pieces to the roster, giving McMenemy additional options as he looks to establish his lineup. "I think everybody, first and foremost, they came back fit, and that is really, really important for any new player," McMenemy said. "We were able to do that with everybody."

Just as important, McMenemy believes the newcomers fit what West Liberty is trying to accomplish on the field and within the program. "They're all players that fit our style of play," he said. "They're all players that I think anybody coming to watch us is going to be pretty excited to see them play, particularly some of our offensive players."

The early chemistry between the returning players and newcomers has also been encouraging. "It seems like we've been together for three weeks, never mind four or five days," McMenemy said. "I think that's also down to just how well they've kind of got along with each other and how well we've connected this early on."

The Hilltoppers will get an immediate test when they open the season on the road at D'Youville, marking the first meeting between the two programs. West Liberty will then face Malone, providing a pair of non-conference challenges before the MEC schedule begins. McMenemy sees value in the opening games because both opponents will present different styles that should help prepare West Liberty for conference play.
"D'Youville provides a new challenge for us," McMenemy said. "That's something new and something different, which we're quite pleased about."

Malone, meanwhile, will provide a more physical challenge, according to McMenemy. "Malone is a tough GMAC team physically," he said. "They'll be pretty strong and they'll look to play pretty direct, which links to a lot of the conference opponents that we're going to face."

The MEC itself presents another challenge in 2026, with four new head coaches entering the league and changes to the conference's divisional alignment. Davis & Elkins moves into the North Division, while Shawnee State joins the MEC as a new opponent. "All of these things are going to be challenges," McMenemy said. "But I do think a lot of the teams, if you look at results across the whole season, it's a lot of competitiveness within teams."

That competitiveness was evident for West Liberty last season. The Hilltoppers played West Virginia State, a team that advanced to the NCAA Tournament, twice and lost both matches by one goal. West Liberty also played Fairmont State, another NCAA Tournament participant, in a competitive Senior Day match.

McMenemy believes those close results demonstrate how important every conference point can become. "Points are so valuable, particularly in conference play," he said. "If you can get points, particularly on the road, point scoring is going to be so valuable in terms of just the makeup of the conference and also how the seeding works for conference tournament play."

That makes the opening stretch of the season particularly important. McMenemy wants the Hilltoppers to establish confidence early while understanding that non-conference results and conference play can present different challenges. "I think it's vitally important. If we can get a good start and get out of the blocks pretty quick, we understand that non-conference play is different from conference play. But I do think that if we can get out of the blocks quickly with these two non-conference games and have a couple of really good performances, I think that's going to set us up really well for how the conference play's going to be."

With 16 returners, increased depth and a group of newcomers who have quickly embraced the program, the Hilltoppers enter 2026 with a foundation McMenemy believes can help West Liberty take a step forward.

The challenge now is turning that continuity and competition into results. And the Hilltoppers will have an opportunity to begin that process immediately when the 2026 season gets underway August 27 at D'Youville.



West Liberty University blends a small-town environment with a comprehensive college experience, fostering students' aspirations through hands-on learning, personalized support, and unique academic programs at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Learn more at westliberty.edu.