Women’s Soccer Welcomes Simpson for Home Opener

Kickoff scheduled for 5 p.m. at Neis Field

8/28/2025 12:00:00 PM

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan University women's soccer team will kick off its season this Friday, August 29 at home for a non-conference matchup with Simpson College. The contest will serve as the Titan's opener across all sports with a scheduled start time of 5 p.m. at Neis Field.

Illinois Wesleyan, which was slated to finish eighth in the CCIW Preseason Coaches' Poll, welcome six new faces to its roster, joining ten sophomores, three juniors, and four seniors.

Friday's game will serve as the start of head coach Oz Bakirdan's fourth season at the helm of the Titan women's soccer program. Bakirdan will be joined on the sidelines by his son, assistant coach Mustafa Bakirdan, a 2025 graduate of Illinois Wesleyan and former IWU men's soccer player.

Additionally, Caelyn Bieterman (nee Steffens) returns to the sidelines as an assistant coach. Bieterman was a standout on the women's soccer team from 2019-2022, earning All-American honors and CCIW Offensive Player of the Year three times during her career, and holds multiple program records.

Senior Bree Cordray (Bloomington, Ill.-University High) will maintain her captain duties again this season. Cordray, a three-year letter winner, started all 17 games last season for the Titans at midfield.

Also returning for the Green and White is sophomore Liza Wiley (Bloomington, Ind.-Home School), a Second Team All-CCIW Selection last season. In her first year, Wiley was the Titan's leading scorer and was one of three freshmen in the league to be named All-CCIW.

In a limited series history, IWU and Simpson are deadlocked at 2-2-1 all-time, dating back to 2001. The Storm won the most recent meeting in Indianola, Iowa, last season, 2-0.

Live stats will be available and can be found here. A live stream can be found here.

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