Sport: Soccer Category: Scores & Results

Royal Knights prepare for 2026 soccer season with state tournament ambitions

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 4, 2026, 7:51 PM

Last updated Sep 4, 2026

Soccer

Summary

The Royal Knights open the 2026 soccer season aiming to secure a state tournament bid after a strong campaign last year that ended in district play. Head coach Jens Jensen enters his 22nd year with the program, emphasizing a need for increased scoring from set pieces and corner kicks. The roster features returning contributors Lauren Wardenaar, Maggie Frank, Hallie Christensen, and Briseydi Pacheco. Goalkeeper Grace Soliz is currently sidelined with a knee injury but is expected to return during the season, with a freshman set to start in her place. Jensen has set a goal of reaching double-digit shutouts, while the team continues to navigate a challenging South Central Athletic Conference schedule. The long-term objective remains earning a high tournament seed to improve the likelihood of advancing beyond the first round of state competition.

Source Links

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Status Watch

•The Royal Knights finished the 2025 season with a 13-3 record.
•Lauren Wardenaar and Briseydi Pacheco led the team with 13 goals each last season.
•Grace Soliz will miss the start of the season due to a knee injury.
•Coach Jens Jensen is entering his 22nd year with the program.

Latest Updates

7:51 PMYahoo Sports — Knights eye state bid ahead of 2026 season

What they're saying

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Sep. 4—ROYAL CITY — After a strong 2025 that fell just short of a state tournament bid, the Royal Knights (13-3) come into this season eager to take that next step. "I think we need to score," Head Coach Jens Jensen said. "We need to score from more set pieces than we did last year. That's going to be huge. So free kicks, corners — we got to find more goals." The Knights made a run in the ...
— Yahoo Sports

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Soccer