Fresh Pitch, Same Purpose

IOWA CITY, Iowa — Change brings both uncertainty and opportunity. As the University of Iowa women’s soccer team prepares to kick off the 2026 season, the program enters a new era under first-year head coach Dean Ward. 

Coming off a 12-5-4 season in 2025 and landing in the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament, the Hawkeyes aren't interested in rebuilding. Instead, the program returns a blend of talent and a refreshed coaching staff under Ward.

"Spring was good for us,” said Ward. “It gave us a chance to get to know the team and lay a foundation. Because of that, we’ve been able to seamlessly transition into attacking the fall and preparing for games. The team has been great with accepting new ideas and new ways of doing things. Sometimes freshening things up can be a real benefit, so we're in a good spot."

Ward, who made the move to Iowa City after building a dominant legacy with a Top 25 program at Xavier, recognized immediately that the talent level at Iowa was primed for high-level success.

"There weren’t too many surprises, to be honest,” said Ward. “I came from a Top 25 team at Xavier, so the talent levels are very similar. The main difference is that the infrastructure around the program and the university is bigger, with more people involved. That can be both a blessing and a bit of a challenge, but the facilities and the team are great. We're in a really good place."

While previous Hawkeye squads relied heavily on structure and physicality, Ward’s philosophy centers around empowering his players with tactical freedom and a possession-oriented attack.

"There was a high level of competitiveness and solid habits and details were already in place from the previous coaching staff," Ward said. "My view of the game is a little different than how it was previously played. There are different ways to win, and I want to give the players freedom to express themselves from an attacking perspective. Shifting toward a more possession- and attacking-based style is a bit of a change and tweak for us."

That new-found creative freedom has struck a chord in the locker room. Midfielder Josie Jones said Ward's approach has been liberating through preseason preparations.

"I'm loving it. I feel like it's kind of up to the players now," Jones said. "It's not a style where you have one choice; you have many choices, and he's said that. He said, 'I want you to have many choices, and there's not necessarily a wrong choice.' He wants us to be creative and find something new.'"

Beyond the pitch, Ward’s personal demeanor has instilled a sense of trust across the roster.

"I'm a calm, even-keeled individual, and that helps the players know what to expect," Ward said. "I don't have many bad days. I get to coach soccer for a living, so I feel very blessed and lucky. It's my nature — I don't get too high or too low, and that stability benefits the players."

Defender Lexy Griffin explained how Ward’s constructive, level-headed nature keeps the squad grounded.

"He’s very calm and he speaks to you, and criticism is constructive,” said Griffin. “It's very uplifting and getting you ready."

The tactical transition has been made smoother by the solid core that returned in an effort to push the program further.

"We all banded together in the locker room,” said Jones of the team’s mindset during the coaching transition. “We were here for each other and we’re here to play for each other. We're not necessarily here for a coach; we're here for the school and to play for the team.'"

That chemistry will feature prominent offensive weapons. Although forward Berit Parten was limited by injury in 2025 following her standout seven-goal freshman campaign in 2024, Iowa’s attack remains loaded with experience.

Paired alongside second-team All-Big Ten midfielder Sofia Bush, who started 20 games and anchored the midfield, and versatile playmakers like Jones, the Hawkeye offense is equipped to capitalize on Ward’s offensive system.

Defensive depth will also be a core pillar, with veteran returners like Griffin, Lucia Englund, and Iba Oching anchoring a unit that held opponents to just 23 goals across 21 matches in 2025. The competition in the goalkeeper room gives the team strong base as it prepares for a challenging slate.

As the season opener against Milwaukee (Aug. 12) approaches, the Hawkeyes aren't shying away from high expectations. The program tasted deep postseason runs in recent years and the standard remains elevated.

"The goal is to get as far as we can," Jones said. "A national championship would be awesome, but our main goal is to push ourselves further than last season, work together, and push each other to be the best that we can."