Eastern Illinois University released its 2026 women’s soccer non-conference schedule on May 29 as the Panthers prepare for the upcoming season under head coach Dirk Bennett.
The university said that details regarding the Ohio Valley Conference portion of the schedule will be announced in early June, coinciding with a new conference membership alignment. The Panthers will open their preseason with two home exhibition matches at Lakeside Field: first against Southern Illinois on Wednesday, August 5, and then against Chicago State on Saturday, August 8.
The regular season is set to begin at home when Eastern Illinois hosts Valparaiso on Thursday, August 13. The team will then travel to UIC for a match on Sunday, August 16 to conclude the opening weekend of action.
Three additional non-conference home games are scheduled: Indiana State visits on August 27, Purdue Fort Wayne arrives on August 30, and Illinois State comes to Lakeside Field on September 10. The road segment of the non-conference slate includes contests at Purdue (August 23), Ball State (September 6), Cincinnati (September 13), and Marquette (September 19).
Further information about conference opponents and dates is expected once the Ohio Valley Conference finalizes its fall schedule.
