LAREDO, Texas – Texas A&M International University women's soccer enters the 2026 season with a young roster, an influx of international experience and a belief that the Dustdevils have the pieces to make a push in one of NCAA Division II's toughest conferences.
TAMIU begins its fourth season under head coach Jovany Macias after finishing the 2025 campaign 4-9-4 overall and 3-8-3 in Lone Star Conference play. The Dustdevils were selected to finish 12th out of 15 teams in the 2026 LSC Women's Soccer Preseason Poll.
Despite the preseason projection, Macias believes his group has the potential to make noise in the conference.
"We all know that the Lone Star Conference is one of the best conferences in the country in NCAA Division II," Macias said. "This team has a good mix of veteran leadership and new talent stepping up. We have some very tough competitors on our schedule, but if we stay focused on our fundamentals, trust each other, and execute our game plan, I believe we can reach our potential and have a very successful season."
A Young Team With Experience
The Dustdevils will look considerably different in 2026, with a freshman-heavy roster joining a returning core that gained valuable experience a season ago.
While young, Macias said many of TAMIU's newcomers arrive in Laredo with experience from highly competitive club environments around the world.
"The biggest difference is that we have a much younger team this year, with about 17 freshmen," Macias said. "However, young does not mean inexperienced. Many of these players are coming in with a lot of experience from competitive club environments, including international players who have played for or developed through well-recognized clubs such as FC Barcelona, Atlético de Madrid, CE Sant Gabriel, Genoa FC, SK Sturm Graz, and St. Gallen."
TAMIU's roster features players from across the United States and around the world, including Spain, Sweden, Costa Rica, Italy, Colombia, Germany, Austria, Canada, Switzerland and Venezuela.
"Our goal now is to bring everyone together, build chemistry, and develop them within our style of play," Macias said.
Among the returning offensive pieces are sophomores Julissa Gonzalez and Fredes Manrique. Gonzalez finished her freshman campaign with two goals and two assists for six points, while Manrique recorded two goals and an assist for five points.
The Dustdevils also return Tove Thörnholm, Kathryn Torres, Ana Lucia Arroyo Azofeifa, Anessa Barrera and goalkeeper Maria Melendez, among others.
Players to Watch
Three Dustdevils enter the season with LSC Preseason Player to Watch recognition: freshman forward Tatiana Perez Lluis on offense, sophomore Ana Lucia Arroyo Azofeifa on defense and junior Patricia Perez in goal.
Tatiana Perez arrives in Laredo from Barcelona, Spain, with a résumé that includes experience with FC Barcelona, Atlético de Madrid, PSG and CE Sant Gabriel.
"Tatiana Perez brings a tremendous amount of experience from playing in some very competitive environments," Macias said. "Tatiana is a very technical and creative player. You can immediately see her quality in her first touch, ability to play in tight spaces, and understanding of the game. We are excited to see what she can bring to our team this season."
Arroyo returns to anchor the TAMIU back line after appearing in all 17 games during her freshman campaign. The 6-foot defender from Tambor, Costa Rica, played 1,304 minutes during her first season with the Dustdevils and brings Costa Rican national team experience to the program.
"Ana Lu is a 6-foot defender who brings both size and experience to our back line," Macias said. "She is a very intelligent player who gives us a lot defensively, but she also has the ability to help us going forward. Her presence and experience will be very important for us this season."
Patricia Perez, Tatiana's sister, joins the Dustdevils as a junior goalkeeper after developing through programs that include the FC Barcelona Academy, RCD Espanyol, Málaga FC and CE Sant Gabriel.
"Patricia has a lot of potential, and we believe her experience and development will make her an important addition to our program this season," Macias said.
Another Name to Watch
Beyond TAMIU's three preseason Players to Watch, Macias pointed to junior midfielder Anessa Barrera as another player who could play an important role.
The El Paso, Texas, native brings Division I experience from UTEP and will be tasked with helping control the middle of the field for the Dustdevils.
"Anessa brings experience, toughness, and quality to the middle of the field," Macias said. "She gives us another player who can help control the game and connect both sides of the field. We are very excited to see what this season has in store for her."
Building on 2025
TAMIU scored 17 goals over 17 matches last season, with 11 coming in the second half. The Dustdevils allowed 22 goals and recorded four shutouts.
The offense showed what it was capable of late in the year. TAMIU closed the 2025 campaign with a 7-1 victory over Eastern New Mexico, its highest-scoring performance of the season.
Now, Macias wants the combination of returning players and talented newcomers to help the program take another step forward.
"I think what people are not talking about enough is the amount of experience and potential we have throughout this group," Macias said. "We have a very young team, with around 17 freshmen, but they are not inexperienced players."
For Macias, however, the identity of the team will go beyond talent.
"I want this team to be known for being special—not just because of our talent, but because of the way we compete, work for each other, and represent TAMIU," Macias said. "I want us to be known as a team that is disciplined, competitive, resilient, and never gives up, regardless of the opponent or the situation."
Chasing the LSC Tournament
The Dustdevils enter the year with a clear goal: return to the Lone Star Conference Tournament.
TAMIU made its first appearance in the LSC Tournament in program history in 2023, and Macias believes the 2026 group has the ability to put itself back in postseason contention.
"The goal is to qualify for the Lone Star Conference Tournament, just as we did for the first time in program history in 2023," Macias said. "We know the conference is extremely competitive, but we believe we have the talent and potential to compete for that opportunity. Once you get into the tournament, anything can happen, and our goal is to put ourselves in a position to compete for a championship."
The Road Ahead
TAMIU opens the 2026 campaign at home Thursday, Aug. 27, welcoming Lynn University to the Dustdevil Soccer Field for a 7 p.m. kickoff. The Dustdevils then travel to Edinburg to face UT Rio Grande Valley on Aug. 30 before returning home to host Nova Southeastern on Sept. 5.
The schedule features 17 regular-season matches, including 10 at the Dustdevil Soccer Field. TAMIU will welcome St. Mary's, UT Tyler, UT Permian Basin, Dallas Baptist, Texas Woman's, Oklahoma Christian and Sul Ross State to Laredo during the season.
The Dustdevils face a challenging closing stretch with road matches against St. Edward's and West Texas A&M before hosting Sul Ross State in their final home match Oct. 24. TAMIU closes the regular season Oct. 27 on the road against Eastern New Mexico, the same opponent the Dustdevils defeated 7-1 to finish the 2025 campaign.
With a young roster, international experience and a returning group familiar with the demands of the Lone Star Conference, Macias believes the potential is there for TAMIU to exceed expectations.
"We still have a lot to prove, and we understand that the Lone Star Conference is extremely competitive, but I really like the character, talent and potential of this group," Macias said. "If we continue to work for each other and stay committed to our standards, I believe we can surprise some people this season."
The Dustdevils begin their 2026 campaign Thursday, Aug. 27 against Lynn University at the Dustdevil Soccer Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
For the latest news, schedules, results and updates throughout the 2026 season, follow TAMIU Athletics on social media.
