WSOC | First Week in the Books; Gaels Return to Campus Ahead of 2026 Season
7/24/2026 3:19:00 PM | Women's Soccer
MORAGA, Calf. - After a 12-win campaign in 2025, the Saint Mary's women's soccer team returned to campus for its first week of training ahead of the 2026 season. The Gaels put together a historic season a year ago which included a program record seven West Coast Conference victories and a second place finish for their best WCC finish in over two decades.
Despite the success, head coach Theresa Romagnolo and her squad will enter the 2026 campaign with a little extra motivation, seeking the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2001 after narrowly missing out on an at-large bid for a conference that has received multiple tournament bids for 33 consecutive seasons.
Key Returners…
Saint Mary's took home a pair of superlative awards along with six total all-conference selections in 2025. Heading into 2026, the Gaels return three of those six All-WCC selections including midfielder Maddie Lucas, forward Ashlyn Vaughn and reigning 2025 Goalkeeper of the Year Kate Plachy. The trio represents a group of 18 returners compared to 12 newcomers.
Saint Mary's generated a lot of its team success on the defensive side of the ball, finishing the 2025 season with a 0.61 Goals Against Average for the eighth lowest mark in the country. Also returning on the backline for the Gaels are outside backs Aleiyah Schexnayder and Molly Silva as well as senior center back Anna Emperador who started the season opener for the Gaels in 2025 before suffering a knee injury to put her out for the remainder of the year.
Ashlyn Vaughn and Brooklyn Smith combined for six goals a season ago as the duo will lead the charge offensively. Vaughn was a freshman standout in 2025 and finished the season as the 57th ranked freshman according to Top Drawer Soccer, starting in 17 matches for the Gaels with three goals and three assists. Smith transferred in from Utah State and played in all 18 games for the Gaels as a dynamic winger off the bench. The Utah native helped produce one of the best moments of the season, scoring the game-winner against Gonzaga with just 27 seconds remaining.
With timely offense and a veteran backline, Saint Mary's will prove to be another difficult foe week in and week out.
New Faces…
Of the twelve newcomers just two arrive to Moraga as transfers. Junior defender Lexi Chatterton joins the Gaels from Boise State, while midfielder Annie Boyden spent the last two seasons at former WCC foe Gonzaga before transferring to Villanova this past spring. Boyden played in a career high 19 games for the Zags in 2025 while also scoring a goal and recording a pair of assists while Chatterton played in 20 games for the Broncos over her two seasons in Boise.
Goals and Aspirations…
Saint Mary's will have another opportunity to chase history this season, seeking its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2001 and a shot at the program's first ever West Coast Conference title.
The Gaels will kick off the 2026 season on the road taking on Long Beach State on Wednesday, August 12. They will then return to Moraga for their home opener that weekend, hosting Fresno State on Sunday, August 16 at 1 p.m. Tickets and group packages are officially on sale and can be purchased HERE or at smcgaels.com/tickets.
Be sure to follow your Gaels on Facebook, Instagram, and X to get all the latest Saint Mary's athletics updates and information.
#GaelsRise
Despite the success, head coach Theresa Romagnolo and her squad will enter the 2026 campaign with a little extra motivation, seeking the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2001 after narrowly missing out on an at-large bid for a conference that has received multiple tournament bids for 33 consecutive seasons.
There was a lot of pride felt with what we did last fall," said Romagnolo. "But, there was also that feeling of unfulfillment, feeling like we left something out on the table. We were so close to hoisting the trophy, then, we thought we were in the tournament, then we got none of it and the season was over. We have several key returners though and also a newer group that allows us to turn the page and stay fresh. Our returners will continue to set the tone though, maintain the culture, keep the standards high and exemplify that in all the things they do on the field.
Key Returners…
Saint Mary's took home a pair of superlative awards along with six total all-conference selections in 2025. Heading into 2026, the Gaels return three of those six All-WCC selections including midfielder Maddie Lucas, forward Ashlyn Vaughn and reigning 2025 Goalkeeper of the Year Kate Plachy. The trio represents a group of 18 returners compared to 12 newcomers.
Saint Mary's generated a lot of its team success on the defensive side of the ball, finishing the 2025 season with a 0.61 Goals Against Average for the eighth lowest mark in the country. Also returning on the backline for the Gaels are outside backs Aleiyah Schexnayder and Molly Silva as well as senior center back Anna Emperador who started the season opener for the Gaels in 2025 before suffering a knee injury to put her out for the remainder of the year.
Ashlyn Vaughn and Brooklyn Smith combined for six goals a season ago as the duo will lead the charge offensively. Vaughn was a freshman standout in 2025 and finished the season as the 57th ranked freshman according to Top Drawer Soccer, starting in 17 matches for the Gaels with three goals and three assists. Smith transferred in from Utah State and played in all 18 games for the Gaels as a dynamic winger off the bench. The Utah native helped produce one of the best moments of the season, scoring the game-winner against Gonzaga with just 27 seconds remaining.
With timely offense and a veteran backline, Saint Mary's will prove to be another difficult foe week in and week out.
New Faces…
Of the twelve newcomers just two arrive to Moraga as transfers. Junior defender Lexi Chatterton joins the Gaels from Boise State, while midfielder Annie Boyden spent the last two seasons at former WCC foe Gonzaga before transferring to Villanova this past spring. Boyden played in a career high 19 games for the Zags in 2025 while also scoring a goal and recording a pair of assists while Chatterton played in 20 games for the Broncos over her two seasons in Boise.
We're really excited to see the combination of our veteran experience along with our youthful quality. There's a really exciting mix of new and returning players that will allow for internal competition every single day. I'm really happy with our depth and the different ways we can play throughout the course of the season. (Romagnolo)
Goals and Aspirations…
The big goals are always to win the conference and get to the NCAA Tournament. Then you break that down though; one day at a time, one game at a time and really do our best to attack each day and bring our best performance to that day. Stacking quality days throughout the season will help us achieve our bigger goals. (Romagnolo)
Saint Mary's will have another opportunity to chase history this season, seeking its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2001 and a shot at the program's first ever West Coast Conference title.
The Gaels will kick off the 2026 season on the road taking on Long Beach State on Wednesday, August 12. They will then return to Moraga for their home opener that weekend, hosting Fresno State on Sunday, August 16 at 1 p.m. Tickets and group packages are officially on sale and can be purchased HERE or at smcgaels.com/tickets.
Be sure to follow your Gaels on Facebook, Instagram, and X to get all the latest Saint Mary's athletics updates and information.
#GaelsRise
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