​With just under a week to go before its preseason opener against Notre Dame, Northwestern Women’s Soccer is back in session with a fresh roster ready to be tested in 2026.The ‘Cats have lost six total players to graduation — including two major players in Brooke Miller and Caterina Regazzoni — but fortunately, six new talented recruits are rounding out the 27-player roster in Evanston this year, some of whom already possess international experience.Northwestern’s 2026 season is shaping up to be the most competitive in its recent history. Here’s what to expect from the ‘Cats — both old and new — this year. GoalkeepersThe pecking order of the goalkeepers seems to be pretty set in stone for 2026, and it’s no secret why: Nyamma Nelson had a spectacular first year as a Wildcat, playing all but 19 minutes and setting Northwestern’s first year single-season shutout record. With a deserving callup to the United States U-19 National Team camp in late June, Nelson is sure to keep her starting role as a sophomore goalkeeper at the expense of senior CJ Roy and newcomer Kadance Radwanski. Roy saw just 19 minutes of action last year, and it’s unlikely that she will see much playing time this year. Radwanski, who won an U-18/19 ECNL National Title with her youth club Michigan Hawks, seems more likely to secure the backup role. Though she might not play in major conference games, its likely that head coach Michael Moynihan hands her minutes in low stakes non-conference games. DefendersMiller was a critical component of Northwestern’s defense in 2025. With her absence, Northwestern’s back line is working with somewhat of a deficit, but it’s not starting from scratch. Sophomore Audrey Alberts already has a host of experience as a collegiate center back, playing a team-high 1,901 minutes last year. Senior Maddie Finnerty returns alongside Alberts in the center, and will seek to anchor the defense while leading with poise.The bigger question is who fills out the rest. First-year Gwen Zimmerman, who has made waves competing for Wales on the youth and senior national teams, could be an answer.Though listed as a defender/midfielder on NU’s roster, Zimmerman looked to have played a deeper center midfield role in high school and could easily be moved to the outside. The same applies to Naomi Lofthouse: another first-year with a strong resumé. Hailing from Canada, Lofthouse played for Northern Super League club Ottawa Rapid FC on a youth development permit and represented Canada at the U-17 Women’s World Cup. She has played an attacking mid/forward role in the past, which makes one wonder whether she’s being lined up to take up a role as a competitive outside back. Sophomore Gabby Anderson (490 minutes, one goal) and senior Keira Wagner (415 minutes, one assist), who trained with the Philippines national team in June, will also fight for bigger roles this fall. Junior Olivia Elliott, sophomore Selma Sol Sigurjonsdottir and first-y