ARCATA, Calif. - The 2026 Cal Poly Humboldt women's soccer team will get its first opportunity to take the field this season when the Lumberjacks host Simpson University in an exhibition this Saturday, Aug. 15 at College Creek Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.
Saturday's exhibition marks the first of three preseason matches for the Lumberjacks. Humboldt will host Southern Oregon on Thursday, Aug. 20, at 2 p.m., before wrapping up the exhibition schedule against Oregon Tech on Saturday, Aug. 22, at 11:30 a.m. The Lumberjacks will officially open the 2026 regular season campaign on Thursday, Aug. 27 with the Humboldt Kickoff Classic.
With the start of the 2026 campaign right around the corner, let's preview this season's Lumberjacks squad.
SEASON NOTES
Grant Landy begins his 30th season as a collegiate head coach in 2026 and his seventh season at the helm of the Lumberjacks. Landy previously spent 23 seasons at Concordia University Portland before taking over the Humboldt program. This will be
Landy's final fall coaching the Cal Poly Humboldt Women's Soccer program.
The Lumberjacks enter the 2026 season looking to build on one of the most successful seasons in program history. Humboldt finished 2025 with an 8-6-8 overall record and a 4-2-5 mark in CCAA play before making a historic run through the CCAA Tournament. Humboldt captured its first-ever CCAA Tournament Championship in 2025, defeating Cal Poly Pomona 1-0 in the semifinal before blanking Chico State 1-0 in the championship match.
The CCAA Tournament championship earned the Lumberjacks their first NCAA Division II Tournament appearance since 1996. Humboldt entered the NCAA West Regional as the No. 7 seed and saw its historic season come to an end with a 1-0 loss at No. 2 seed Cal Poly Pomona.
The 2026 roster features 29 players, including 18 returners and 11 newcomers.
Humboldt returns several players who played significant minutes during last year's NCAA Tournament team, including
Heidie Munoz,
Nicole Beauchemin,
Alia Prentiss,
Kyla Okamoto,
Sari Murphy,
Charlotte Alvarez,
Lucy Al-Chokhachy and
Ava Kruckenberg.
The Lumberjacks' returning players combined for significant experience during the 2025 season, with several returners earning starting roles throughout the campaign.
Humboldt's 2026 coaching staff features Landy alongside assistant coaches
Colin Garon and
Taylor McMillin-Bianucci.
POSITION PREVIEWS
FORWARDS (6)
Humboldt returns two of its top offensive contributors from last season in
Heidie Munoz and
Sari Murphy. Munoz played in 22 matches with 21 starts in 2025, scoring two goals and adding four assists for eight points. Murphy appeared in 16 matches and scored twice.
Returners
Ava Kruckenberg and
Gabby Mullett gives the Lumberjacks two more options in the attacking third.
New to the group, freshman
Hayden Anderson and
Isis-Jade Bryant will round out the forward position for the 'Jacks.
MIDFIELDERS (10)
The Lumberjacks' midfield features a combination of returning experience and newcomers.
Alia Prentiss,
Nicole Beauchemin,
Charlotte Alvarez and
Lucy Al-Chokhachy all return after contributing to Humboldt's historic 2025 season.
Prentiss finished third on the team with six points last season after scoring three goals, while Beauchemin contributed five points on one goal and three assists. Al-Chokhachy added two assists and appeared in all 22 matches. Alvarez also saw action in 21 contests as a freshman.
The Lumberjacks also welcome freshmen
Elisa Garcia,
Sloane Jockin,
Addison Huff,
Ashley Vigil,
Grace Pimentel, and junior transfer
Aliyah Hunyh, giving Humboldt additional depth and competition in the center of the field.
DEFENDERS (9)
Humboldt's back line features a mix of returning players and newcomers, with
Kyla Okamoto,
Kylie Elliano,
Marissa Volpe,
Ayla Harden, Bre Mello,
Julia Martin,
Natalie Wenner, and
Karlie Yamada among the returners.
Okamoto was one of Humboldt's most experienced defenders in 2025, starting 14 of the 20 matches in which she appeared. She also scored a goal during the regular season. Elliano, Volpe, Wenner, Harden, Mello, and Yamada enter the 2026 season looking to take on expanded roles.
The Lumberjacks have also added freshmen
Lokelani Almony to the squad.
GOALKEEPERS (4)
The Lumberjacks return three goalkeepers with collegiate experience in
Ari Beddoes,
Izzy Boudreaux, and
Adea Nunes while adding freshman
Parker Bridgman to the position group.
Beddoes played in 20 matches and made 10 starts in 2025, finishing the season with a 0.50 goals-against average and an .868 save percentage. She recorded three wins, two losses and three ties while helping Humboldt post 13 shutouts.
Boudreaux also returns after appearing in one match as a freshman, while Nunes and Bridgman give the Lumberjacks additional depth and competition at the position.
SUCCESS AGAINST SIMPSON
Simpson University enters Saturday's exhibition as the first opponent on Humboldt's 2026 preseason schedule. The Red Hawks will make the trip to Arcata for the exhibition at College Creek Field.
Saturday's match provides both programs with an opportunity to evaluate their squads in a game environment as they continue preparations for the regular season.
UP NEXT
The Lumberjacks will remain at College Creek Field for the remainder of their preseason schedule, hosting Southern Oregon on Thursday, Aug. 20, at 2 p.m. and Oregon Tech on Saturday, Aug. 22, at 11:30 a.m.
Humboldt will then open the regular season on Thursday, Aug. 27, against Central Washington at 3 p.m. as part of the Humboldt Kickoff Classic. The Lumberjacks will also host Concordia University Irvine on Aug. 29 before beginning CCAA play against Menlo on Sept. 18.
For more information on Cal Poly Humboldt women's soccer, visit humboldtathletics.com, download our mobile app on
Apple iOS or
Google Android, and follow the Lumberjacks on
Instagram,
Twitter/X, and
Facebook.
Instagram: @humboldt.athletics
Twitter/X: @HumboldtJacks
Facebook: Cal Poly Humboldt Lumberjacks
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