EJay’s Weekly Pool – Opening Weekend 2026
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Don’t worry, I am terrible at this.
A mixed bag of ranked programs, NESCAC/Centennial openers, a Gate City derby, and one Penn State family argument. Rankings below are United Soccer Coaches preseason (Aug. 4).
1) Connecticut College @ Amherst
Conn opens at No. 9. Amherst is unranked nationally but is still Amherst in a NESCAC opener at Hitchcock. These two have a habit of turning into 1–0 or 0–0 chess. Conn has more national pedigree right now; Amherst has the field.
SC Pick: 1–1.
2) Scranton @ Muhlenberg
Scranton is No. 17 after a Landmark year that finally produced an NCAA win. Muhlenberg was 8-3-9 a year ago and is always a pain at home in the Centennial. Road test for a ranked side that has Messiah at home first.
SC Pick: Scranton 2–1.
3) Washington University (St. Louis) @ North Park
WashU is No. 14. North Park is the CCIW problem child that knocked Wheaton out of the conference tournament last fall. Holmgren is not a fun midweek/weekend visit for UAA teams.
SC Pick: WashU 2–1. Don’t be shocked if it stays 1–1.
4) Wheaton (IL) @ Colorado College
Rematch of last August’s 2–2 draw at Joe Bean. This time it’s Stewart Field and the altitude. Wheaton is not in the national 25; CC lives for early-season tournament weekends.
SC Pick: 2–2. Again.
5) Penn State Berks @ Penn State Altoona
United East intra-system game. Nobody outside the family is losing sleep over this one, which is exactly why someone in the pool will nail the 3–1 and take the week. Home side usually finds a way.
SC Pick: Altoona 2–1.
6) Washington & Lee @ Johns Hopkins
Homewood Field, Sunday after JHU hosts Vassar on Friday. Hopkins had a messy 8-7-6 in 2025 and missed the national poll. W&L is a sturdy ODAC side. Early-season Homewood still leans Blue Jays.
SC Pick: Johns Hopkins 2–0.
7) College of New Jersey @ Ithaca
TCNJ is usually the better-organized NJAC side. Ithaca is hosting this one at Butterfield after a Friday trip to Geneseo. Liberty League hosts can be sticky in week one.
SC Pick: TCNJ 2–1.
8) Greensboro @ Guilford
Gate City derby. Guilford’s home opener under the new Reilly era; Greensboro is coming off 8-6-4 and a USA South tourney home game. Crosstown games ignore form.
SC Pick: Guilford 1–0.
9) Carnegie Mellon @ Otterbein
UAA traveler versus an OAC home side that always plays. CMU’s floor is usually higher. Westerville can flatten that if the first 20 minutes get sloppy.
SC Pick: Carnegie Mellon 2–0.
10) Vassar @ Franklin & Marshall
F&M hosts W&L Friday and Vassar Sunday. Diplomats at Tylus Field in September are a different animal than the midweek version. Vassar can keep it honest.
SC Pick: Vassar 2–1.
Season prize remains nothing. Get the form in before Thursday night.
Hope you enjoy whatever kick off you will be watching!
SC.