The match begins NM State’s 17th season of women’s soccer and kicks off the university’s 2026–27 athletics calendar as high school programs across the area prepare for their own fall seasons.
By Levi Gwaltney for Las Cruces Digest
Source: NMSU Athletics [GAME NOTES]
Images: Courtesy
Another year of scholastic sports is ready to begin in Las Cruces, and NM State Women’s Soccer gets the first official turn.
The Aggies open their 2026 season against Big 12 opponent Arizona State at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 12, at the NM State Soccer Complex. The match begins NM State’s 17th season of women’s soccer and kicks off the university’s 2026–27 athletics calendar as high school programs across the area prepare for their own fall seasons.
Wednesday also gives the Aggies another opportunity to accomplish something they have yet to do: defeat the Sun Devils.
Arizona State leads the series 4–0. The teams last met Aug. 31, 2025, in Phoenix, where ASU defeated NM State 1–0. Wednesday will mark the sixth time the Aggies have hosted a Power Four opponent in program history.
A New Look for 2026
The team taking the field Wednesday will look considerably different from the one that finished 2025.
NM State enters the season with 17 newcomers and 14 returners, including seven incoming transfers and nine freshmen.
The Aggies have named Sydnee Johnson, Marlee Cavitt, Emma O’Neil and Milana Eyrich captains for the 2026 campaign.
They inherit a program looking to rebound from a difficult season. NM State finished 2025 at 2–12–4 overall and 1–3–4 in Conference USA. Head Coach Rob Baarts, now entering his ninth season, has previously overseen dramatic turnarounds in Las Cruces, including the program-record 13-win 2022 season that produced a WAC Tournament championship and NM State’s first NCAA Tournament appearance, followed by an undefeated CUSA regular-season championship in 2023.
A New Athletics Year Begins
The match also opens the first full NM State athletics year under Director of Athletics Joe Fields and the department’s first season since returning to adidas as its official footwear, uniform, apparel and sideline sponsor.
Conference USA enters 2026 with 10 women’s soccer programs. The Aggies will play eight conference matches before the CUSA Championship in November.
Those larger questions can wait.
First comes Arizona State.
NM State vs. Arizona State. Wednesday night. Las Cruces.
And with the opening whistle, the 2026–27 local sports year is underway.
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