Pulse of Pittsburgh Soccer: Women’s College preseason begins, with men and high schools to follow

August has arrived, signaling the official transition into fall soccer across Western Pennsylvania.

While the professional campaign for the Riverhounds reaches a critical midseason stretch as they look to get out of their mid-Summer funk which they’ve lost four of their past five league matches, local Division I college programs are officially back on the pitch as preseason camps launch across the region.

And, let’s not forget — High School soccer is practically here too as the 2026 PIAA boys and girls high school soccer fall season begins with official practices in less than two weeks, on Monday, August 17, 2026, followed by the first scrimmages on August 22 and regular-season play starting August 28. 

Look for more to come on that too, as we are now preparing for a season with numerous changes, as Pittsburgh Soccer Now is preparing for another season of providing quality high school soccer content.  

Women’s DI College Soccer: Preseason Underway

Preseason training camps for local Women’s Division I programs—Pitt, Duquesne, and Robert Morris—are officially up and running.

While preseason scrimmages will kick off this week, including the women’s edition of the Crosstahn Derby when Robert Morris host Duquesne on Wednesday (at North Athletic Complex in Moon at 4 p.m.) the key date to mark down this year is August 12.  That’s right — the women’s soccer season will officially kickoff a week earlier this year.  Once again it’s a mid-week start for all three Pittsburgh teams.

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A notable shift across NCAA soccer this season is the earlier start date for fall training camp.

Pitt Women’s Head Coach Ben Waldrum highlighted that his group is excited about having a strong group back in camp, with what he feels is a top-notch recruiting class adding to the competition.

“Preseason has been really positive,” Waldrum told Pittsburgh Soccer Now.

“The energy, competitiveness, and overall level of the group have been outstanding. While last season wasn’t up to our standard, I thought we made tremendous progress down the stretch, and that gives us confidence moving forward.

The Panthers enter camp looking to bounce back after navigating roster turn-over last year following the departures of star talent to the professional ranks—most notably Sarah Schupansky and Deborah Abiodun. Waldrum has expressed high optimism for an impressive incoming class brought in to bolster depth and restore high-level dynamism.

“We’ve added an outstanding recruiting class, we’re getting some key veterans back, and the competition within the squad has been excellent,” Waldrum said.

“It’s still early, but we’re overly optimistic that this group has what it takes to get Pitt back competing at the level we’ve come to expect. We’re excited to get the season started.”

PSN’s camp visits across Pitt, Duquesne, and RMU are scheduled for the coming week to provide on-the-ground updates, squad breakdowns, and coach interviews as the teams get ready for the season sprint that starts with preseason scrimmages.  See the schedule below for when Pitt, Duquesne and RMU women’s teams kick off!

Men’s DI College Soccer: Season kicks off August 20

Much like the women, the schedules have been moved up a week for the men’s college soccer, which means that Pitt, Duquesne and Robert Morris are gearing up for the competition to come fast and furious.

As discussed last week on Sounding Off on Soccer Podcast with Devon Kerr, in some cases, men’s rosters are still being finalized.  Pitt announced new roster additions this past week on its social media platforms.

We’ll also be catching up with the men’s teams at their camps the following week, as each program is in a transitional phase on some level, but recent successes for each keep expectations very high, considering that Robert Morris, under Head Coach Jon Potter, won the Horizon League in 2024 and were a semifinalist again in 2025, while Chase Brooks has positioned Duquesne as a tough out every year in Atlantic 10, winning matches on the road against ACC powers like Syracuse and Notre Dame and producing players who are going professional.  Of course, Pitt has been the standard bearer in the region for men’s college soccer.  As Head Coach Jay Vidovich enters his 10th season in Pittsburgh (yes — it’s been 10 years!!) — the Panthers will look to bounce back from their first season missing the NCAA tournament since 2018.  Sure enough, they have a lot of new talented players and will be bringing back a core of 13 returnees.

Vidovich is making some major late-summer moves to tool up the squad right before preseason camp kicks off.

Former Penn State and MLS Super draft selection Caden Grabfelder highlights wave of Pitt men’s soccer’s new additions

Snagging a big-name Big Ten transfer like Caden Grabfelder (ex-Penn State star and All-Big Ten Freshman selection) along with international/domestic talent like Pablo Portero (Spain), Cristian Lograsso (NJIT transfer), Ethan Pendelton (UCLA / Loudoun United FC and DC United Academy) and Cannon Scretchen (Xavier / Nashville SC and Huntsville FC in MLS Next Pro) shows Vidovich is aggressively addressing depth and firepower following last season.

Pittsburgh Soccer Calendar (Aug 1 – Aug 15)

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (USL Championship)

Coming off a bounce back win on the West Coast late Saturday, the Riverhounds will now be home for two important matches against top tier teams in the West (Sacramento) and East (Old Guard rival Charleston) before ano  ther stretch of games that includes a mid-week fixture when they travel to Brooklyn, El Paso, then come home to close out August with a massive contest against first place Tampa Bay Rowdies on Sunday, 29th.

• Sat, Aug 8: vs. Sacramento Republic FC (7:00 PM ET) — FNB Stadium
• Sat, Aug 15: vs. Charleston Battery (7:00 PM ET) — FNB Stadium
• Sat, Aug 22: at Brooklyn FC (7:00 PM ET)
• Wed, Aug 26: at El Paso (9:00 PM ED)
• Sun, Aug 29: vs Tampa Bay Rowdies — FNB Stadium

⚽ Women’s Division I Soccer

⚽ Men’s Division I Soccer

Robert Morris Men’s Soccer Schedule 

John Krysinsky

John Krysinsky has covered soccer and other sports for many years for various publications and media outlets. He is also author of 'Miracle on the Mon' -- a book about the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, which chronicles the club, particularly the early years of Highmark Stadium with the narrative leading up to and centered around a remarkable match that helped provide a spark for the franchise. John has covered sports for Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, DK Pittsburgh Sports, Pittsburgh Sports Report, has served as color commentator on Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC broadcasts, and worked with OPTA Stats and broadcast teams for US Open Cup and International Champions Cup matches held in the US. Krysinsky also served as the Head Men’s Soccer Coach at his alma mater, Point Park University, where he led the Pioneers to the first-ever winning seasons and playoff berths (1996-98); head coach of North Catholic boys (2007-08), associate head coach of Shady Side Academy boys (2009-2014).