North Coast Athletic Conference women’s soccer is wide open. None of the eight teams has more than four wins, and conference play opens Oct. 3 with a seven-game round-robin over four weeks. Here’s where every team stands after the nonconference schedule.
The early contenders
Denison (3-2-2) has outscored its opponents 12-5. The Big Red beat Kalamazoo 6-0, tied nationally respected Johns Hopkins 1-1 and shut out Ohio Northern 2-0 on Tuesday.
Kenyon (2-1-4) has the best defense in the league, with five shutouts in seven games. The Owls have given up four goals all season, and three of those came in one game against Johns Hopkins.
Wooster (4-3-1) has the most wins in the conference. It won 4-3 at Pitt-Greensburg on Tuesday. Oberlin (3-3-1) has already scored 15 goals, including an 8-0 win over Carlow and a 5-1 win over Olivet.
DePauw (4-5) started 4-1 but has lost four straight, all by two goals or fewer. Ohio Wesleyan (2-3-3) hasn’t allowed a goal in its last four games. John Carroll (2-4-2) and Wittenberg (2-4-1) will both be looking for a fresh start in league play.
Early-season records
| Team | Overall |
| Denison | 3-2-2 |
| Kenyon | 2-1-4 |
| Wooster | 4-3-1 |
| Oberlin | 3-3-1 |
| DePauw | 4-5-0 |
| Ohio Wesleyan | 2-3-3 |
| John Carroll | 2-4-2 |
| Wittenberg | 2-4-1 |
Records through Sept. 23, compiled from the NCAC composite schedule. Scrimmages, exhibitions and a cancelled game are not included.
Full NCAC conference schedule
Home team listed second.
Sat., Oct. 3
- Denison at Kenyon, noon
- Wittenberg at John Carroll, 1 p.m.
- Oberlin at DePauw, 2:30 p.m.
- Wooster at Ohio Wesleyan, 4 p.m.
Tue., Oct. 6
- Oberlin at Wooster, 3 p.m.
- Ohio Wesleyan at Kenyon, 3:30 p.m.
- John Carroll at Denison, 7 p.m.
Wed., Oct. 7
- Wittenberg at DePauw, 7 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 10
- John Carroll at Ohio Wesleyan, 1 p.m.
- DePauw at Wooster, 3 p.m.
- Denison at Wittenberg, 3:30 p.m.
- Kenyon at Oberlin, 6 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 17
- Wittenberg at Kenyon, noon
- Wooster at Denison, noon
- Ohio Wesleyan at DePauw, 2:30 p.m.
- Oberlin at John Carroll, 5 p.m.
Tue., Oct. 20
- DePauw at Denison, 7 p.m.
- Ohio Wesleyan at Oberlin, 7 p.m.
- Wooster at Wittenberg, 7 p.m.
- Kenyon at John Carroll, 7:05 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 24
- Denison at Oberlin, 11:30 a.m.
- Wittenberg at Ohio Wesleyan, 1 p.m.
- DePauw at Kenyon, 1 p.m.
- John Carroll at Wooster, 3 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 31
- Ohio Wesleyan at Denison, noon
- Oberlin at Wittenberg, 1 p.m.
- John Carroll at DePauw, 2:30 p.m.
- Kenyon at Wooster, 3 p.m.
Five matchups to circle
- Denison at Kenyon (Oct. 3): The two teams at the top of the table meet on opening day in Gambier, Denison’s attack against Kenyon’s defense.
- DePauw at Wooster (Oct. 10): The two teams with the most wins meet in Wooster.
- Wooster at Denison (Oct. 17): A midseason game that could shape the top of the standings.
- DePauw at Denison (Oct. 20): A Tuesday-night game under the lights in Granville with seeding on the line.
- Kenyon at Wooster (Oct. 31): The regular season ends on Halloween, and the tournament field could come down to this game.
Before league play: Denison hosts Case Western Reserve on Saturday, Sept. 26, one of the toughest nonconference games left on any NCAC schedule.
