Women’s Soccer Embracing New Standards, Challenges for 2026

AUSTIN, Texas — Standards have defined the first preseason of a new era for St. Edward’s women’s soccer, which opens the season on Sunday with a new head coach for the first time in two decades. Nuno Gourgel inherits a program shaped by Nick Cowell, who retired in January after 20 seasons, 256 victories, and 12 NCAA Tournament appearances on the Hilltop. His objective isn’t to separate St. Edward’s from that history, but to restore the program to lofty highs it reached at the height of Cowell’s tenure. “Nick did pretty well, and we want to get back to that…