LEBANON, Tenn. - - Coming off a Mid-South Conference Regular Season Championship and a return to the NAIA National Championship Second Round, the Cumberland women's soccer program has announced its 2026 schedule.

In all, Cumberland's 18-match schedule features nine returning opponents from the 2025 season and eight teams that qualified for the 2025 NAIA National Championship: Embry-Riddle, Eastern Oregon, UNOH, Georgia Gwinnett, Lindsey Wilson, Cumberlands, Life, and Campbellsville.

Cumberland finished the 2025 campaign with a 12-5-1 overall record and a 5-0-1 mark in Mid-South Conference play, earning a share of the conference regular season title alongside Lindsey Wilson. The Phoenix advanced to the NAIA National Championship for the sixth consecutive season under the Scotsman's tutelage before falling to Truett McConnell in the second round.

The 2026 season begins with an exhibition on the road against Bryan on August 14 before Cumberland opens a five-match homestand at Lindsey Donnell Stadium-Kirk Field. The Phoenix welcome Embry-Riddle on August 22 before hosting Madonna, Milligan, Eastern Oregon, and the University of Northwestern Ohio (UNOH) from August 26 through September 5.

Embry-Riddle highlights the nonconference slate to start the season after reaching the NAIA National Championship semifinals a season ago before falling to eventual national champion Keiser. Eastern Oregon and UNOH also qualified for the national tournament, giving the Phoenix three postseason-caliber opponents before conference play begins.

The Phoenix hit the road one more time before Mid-South Conference action opens, heading to Brescia on September 10. Just two days later the MSC schedule kicks off against Bethel at home, before Cumberland travels to WVU Tech and Freed-Hardeman. Another two nonconference matches follow as CU faces off with SCAD-Savannah on the 20th and Williams Baptist on the 22nd.

They hit the road again to face Georgetown later in the month and then finally close September out by hosting perennial national contender Georgia Gwinnett, another team that earned a berth in last year's national tournament.

October presents perhaps the most challenging stretch of the schedule. Cumberland hosts Lindsey Wilson on October 2nd before consecutive road trips to the University of the Cumberlands and Life. Lindsey Wilson advanced to the NAIA National Championship Round of 16 last season after sharing the Mid-South regular season crown with Cumberland. Cumberlands finished as the national runner-up, falling in a penalty shootout in the championship match, while Life also reached the championship's final site.

The Phoenix conclude the regular season on October 24 by hosting Campbellsville, the defending Mid-South Conference Tournament champion and another national tournament qualifier from a season ago. 

MSC postseason action will begin shortly after the conclusion of the regular season at campus host sites. The NAIA National Championship will begin with the First and Second Round at host sites in November before the National Championship Final Site for the Round of 16 and beyond is moved to Decatur, Alabama at the Jack Allen Sports Complex.