The Emporia State soccer team kicked off its training camp Monday morning on the brand new Blackcreek Diesel Field inside Welch Stadium for the first of two workouts on the day. The Lady Hornets finished 9-6-5 last season and upset a Top 25 Washburn team in Topeka to make the MIAA Tournament semifinals for the fourth time in five years. The E-State roster is loaded with returning talent including All-MIAA Second Teamers Ella Favot in the midfield and Megan Kephart at forward. Favot notched six goals in her freshman campaign while Kephart finished strong accounting for 16 points in 2025 with 14 coming inside ‘Association’ play. Five other Lady Hornets were Honorable Mention from the conference last year with Peyton Pipes, Ruby Ryan, Madeline Bracy, and Sammy Quiroz returning to ESU in 2026. With so much experience back, the focus at training camp changes says head coach Jane Grimley Gunn, who launched her third training camp this morning.
Pipes said the opening practice was a good start to the preseason.
ESU will have to replace Second Team All-MIAA midfielder Abby Bachman and Honorable Mention goalie Mackenzi Goen who were both lost to graduation. ESU will return to the natural grass of the ESU Pitch for their second workout this afternoon. The Black & Gold are slated to open the season at Drury on Thursday, August 27. Opening Day on the ESU Pitch is set for Saturday, August 29 at 11:00 a.m.
