MOUNT VERNON – First-year head coach Francis Lee is bringing the energy to her new Cornell women's soccer team this preseason. And the young 2026 Rams are responding well.
 
"I've been having a lot of fun," said Lee, hired in mid-July to lead Cornell's program following a successful five-year run as an assistant at Simpson College. "More exciting than anything, the girls have good mindsets and are taking care of each other. We're all here for the same reasons."
 
Lee saw many encouraging signs during the team's recent home exhibition against Waldorf. The Rams scrimmage at Wartburg Wednesday, and then travel to play UW-Stout Sept. 1 for the season opener at 7 p.m. in Menomonie, Wis.
 
Cornell welcomes Central for the home opener Sept. 4 on Youth Day. The Rams are also home Sept. 5 to face UW-Whitewater.
 
"We're all learning about each other. The girls are learning how I like to coach," said Lee, who piloted North Polk High School to the Iowa Class 2A girls state title in June. "I want to get our players prepared as much as possible. It's going to take some time and patience. The tiny details will add up if we just keep working."
 
The Rams bring back six starters from last year's 2-15 squad. Junior Eva Plathe and sophomore Gracie Lambrecht will lead the building process as team captains this fall.
 
Plathe has scored 13 goals through her first two seasons, including a team-best five last year. Lambrecht joined Mia Belitz and Paloma Delgado-Corchado with solid freshman campaigns as starters a year ago.
 
Senior defender Jillian Shriver is a returning three-year starter. Junior defender Ava Ferencz has been a regular starter the past two seasons. Goalkeepers Violet Fiers and Sydney Newberg and junior forward Ana Munn Carstensen are among other key returners.
 
Cornell's youthful team features 15 first- and second-year players on the 21-woman roster.
 
"Everybody on our roster will get opportunities," Lee said. "Our goal in Year 1 is to close the gap and flip some scores. We're going to build a culture where everyone in the program gets something out of it."
 
The Rams will play nine MWC regular-season matches as the league expands to 10 teams with the addition of Luther. The top six teams qualify for the MWC Tournament.
 
Cornell opens league play at home Sept. 19 against MWC favorite Lake Forest.