When and Where: August 29, 2026 – Melbourne, Fla. (Stottler Field)
Score: #1 Florida Institute of Technology 4, Southern New Hampshire University 1
Records: SNHU 0-1-0, FIT 2-0-0
Junior
Emma Noheimer (Oxford, Conn.) scored an equalizer at the end of the first half and senior
Isabel Hughes (Ariz.) stopped a career-high 12 shots, but the Southern New Hampshire University women's soccer team dropped a 4-1 decision to the defending NCAA Division II National Champions, the top-ranked Florida Institute of Technology, in the season opener Saturday at Stottler Field.
KEY MOMENT
- Noheimer leveled the match with just two minutes to play in the opening half, but the Panthers would strike three times from the 73rd to the 81st minute to put the match away.
NOTES
- Southern New Hampshire had been unbeaten in its previous six season openers (5-0-1).
- This is the earliest the Penmen have opened the season since 2022 when they edged the University of Bridgeport, 1-0, on Aug. 28 in a neutral-site match. This is also just the fourth August match for SNHU since 2010.
- Florida Tech leads the all-time series with SNHU, 2-0-0, after defeating the Penmen, 2-0, at Ouellette Stadium on Oct. 5 last season, before going on to win the NCAA Division II National Championship.
- Noheimer's goal is the third of her career and her second with the Penmen.
- Hughes, whose previous career best was 10 saves, was making the third start of her career.
- The Penmen are now 68-35-27 (.627) over their last 130 matches dating back to the start of the 2017 campaign.
UP NEXT
- The Penmen return to action Monday (Aug. 31) at 7 p.m. when they complete their trip to the Sunshine State with a match in Daytona Beach against Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, which is receiving votes in the national poll.
- SNHU kicks off its home slate Friday, Sept. 4 (7 p.m.) when it plays host to Wilmington (Del.) University at Ouellette Stadium.
