DOYLESTOWN, Pa. – Delaware Valley women's soccer opened the 2026 season with a 1-0 victory over Cairn University on Tuesday afternoon.
Both teams traded shots in the opening 10 minutes, with Dekota Barthold making a save before Rena Kotsedakis and Jarleny Aguilar-Acuna put shots on net for the Aggies. After DelVal was called offsides, Aguilar-Acuna played the ball back toward a Cairn defender. The defender attempted to play the ball back to the goalkeeper, but Erspamer missed the pass and the ball rolled into the net for an own goal, giving the Aggies a 1-0 lead in the 13th minute.
Both sides had opportunities before the match was halted with 16 minutes remaining in the first half due to a lightning delay. Before halftime, Marissa Rogers and Aguilar-Acuna each had shots saved to keep the Aggies ahead 1-0.
Jenelle Frye entered the cage for the Aggies in the second half and made a stop in the 52nd minute as DelVal continued to control the play and fire shots toward the net. Frye made another stop later in the half before Riley Petrie was issued a yellow card.
Cairn's Smith later struck the post, while graduate student Gianna Grassifulli had a pair of shots stopped. Aguilar-Acuna was issued a yellow card with two seconds remaining as the Aggies held on for the shutout victory.
Both Barthold and Frye made three saves in 45 minutes of action, with Barthold earning the victory.
The win moves Delaware Valley to 1-0-0 to begin the 2026 campaign. The Aggies return to action on the road Friday, September 4, at Penn College with kickoff scheduled for 4 p.m. in Williamsport.
