SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts – The American International College women's soccer team opened its 2026 season in brilliant fashion, thrilling a strong Ronald J. Abdow Field crowd with a 2-0 victory over Caldwell University on Friday, August 28, giving Head Coach Sam Mitchell his first victory behind AIC's bench.
The Yellow Jackets are now 1-0-0 on the season.
AIC controlled possession from the outset, and generated several chances, and just past the midpoint of the first half, broke through. It was a free kick, nearly 30 yards from the goal line, and well outside the width of the 18-yard box on the left side, but Liz Braz blasted it right under the crossbar at 24:14 to give her team a 1-0 lead.
Caldwell never generated much in the first half, and though they pushed in the second, could not get anything threatening away at AIC's net. For much of the period, it appeared that the result would end at 1-0, but with just over 10 minutes to play, AIC was able to net another goal.
This second tally came on a turnover, with Izzy Eaton stealing away a clearing pass just outside of the Caldwell 18-yard box. She fed it right side to Braz, who had already turned back toward the net, and Braz tried a cross that was deflected, but it came right to Eaton, who was crashing toward cage, and she put it away at 79:26 to put the game out of reach.
AIC generated 21 total attempts at the goal, well outpacing the Cougars' seven.
The Yellow Jackets will next face a familiar foe in Northeast 10 Conference opponent Franklin Pierce University. The nonleague game is slated for a 7:00 p.m. start on Wednesday, September 2.
