The 2025-26 academic year is in full swing and now the Roosevelt Lakers athletics programs begin their quests in the second year of Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference membership.
It will be a busy weekend in Arlington heights with both women's soccer and football scheduled to host season openers and Senior Day this weekend. Women's soccer kicks off Thursday at 6 p.m. against rival Lewis at Morris Field as it searches for another positive result against the Flyers. Their Senior Day will take place pregame on Sunday when Roosevelt hosts Upper Iowa at 1 p.m.
The Lakers were projected to finish last, but most of the team that grinded through the GLIAC last season returns, led by Roxy Herrera in goal. Cheech Seuberling anchors the backline with a plethora of attacking options up top for Roosveelt, including Cami Butler, Kyra Cruickshank, Daisy Hernandez-Loya and Aaliyah Leanos. Roosevelt also added reinforcements in the midfield to help strengthen the squad.
It is the beginning a new era of Lakers Football on Saturday when Quincy comes to Morris Field for coach Billy McKeon's debut as Roosevelt head coach. The re-energized Lakers are relying on a core of experienced players to lead the way and improve upon last year's 1-9 record. Micah Walters anchors the offensive line for a running game with three transfer running backs and an open quarterback competition. Defensively, the Lakers are bolstered in the secondary by the return of Carlos Conley for a fifth season and Stacey Terry's return from injury. After being picked seventh in the preseason poll, Roosevelt is poised to prove the doubtors wrong in 2025.
The opening week features the first regular-season competitions for four fall sports as well as men's tennis, which opens its season Friday and Saturday at the UW Whitewater Open hosted in Wisconsin. The Lakers return four of their six singles players from a year ago and added an exciting group of international newcomers for the upcoming season. This weekend is a solo tournament for the team with no team scoring available at the event, which will serve as a strong tuneup for the 2026 spring season.
Men's soccer begins its season on the road this year with a pair of non-conference tests within the region. The Lakers head to Kentucky on Thursday to face Thomas More before continuing onto Ohio for a Saturday matinee against Ohio Dominican. The defending GLIAC regular season champions return most of the core from that team, including first-team all-conference pick Oskar Schuster as well as second-team selections Luca Swinton and Noah Vasilev. Roosevelt was picked second in the preseason coaches poll, which suits the Lakers perfectly fine with some new pieces adjusting to coach Paddy Hoepp's system during non-conference play.
Women's volleyball will also start the season away from home, but the Lakers only travel to the state capital for four matches this weekend. Roosevelt has a doubleheader both Friday and Saturday at UIS, beginning with a pair of non-region opponents on Friday. It all starts with Central Missouri out of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association before closing the day against Winona State from the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. On Saturday, the Lakers face their first regional opponent in Kentucky Wesleyan before concluding their weekend with a match against the host Prairie Stars.
Roosevelt was picked last in the preseason women's volleyball poll, but there is plenty of reason for hope within the Lakers program. Aleksandra Barac returns after a monstrous end to 2024 and the Lakers have two experienced, trustworthy setters in Isa Grana and Zoe Hutchinson. Cydney Martinez is back at libero to lead the defense while the middle blocker roles feature a pair of transfers to work alongside Nekane Parera.
THURSDAY
Women's Soccer vs. Lewis | 6:00 PM | Morris Field
SATURDAY
Football vs. Quincy | 1:00 PM | Morris Field
- Senior Day starts around 12:30 PM
- Tickets on sale now
SUNDAY
Women's Soccer vs. Upper Iowa | 1:00 PM | Morris Field
- Senior Day starts around 12:40 PM
