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By Pulse Staff
University of Findlay athletics is off to a strong start this fall, which is a point of pride for the University, according to Kyle Niermann, Assistant Athletic Director, External Relations.
“Coming off of a historic year where we finished in the top 10 in the country as a department, it was hard to imagine following that up with an equal amount of success, but this fall is making us all think that might be possible,” Niermann said in an email interview. “Our fall sports set the tone for the year and our teams already have picked up some impressive victories.”
The women’s golf team is ranked No. 4 nationally in the Women’s Golf Coaches Association Poll and this week won the 2025 Folds of Honor Challenge, hosted by Grand Valley State University., Findlay beat several other nationally ranked DII teams including No. 1 Dallas Baptist University, and No. 8 West Texas A&M University.
“Our women’s golf team has become our most successful program on campus and consistently puts themselves in a position to compete for a national title,” Niermann said. “Winning a golf tournament is very difficult, more difficult than I think many of our fans and supporters realize, but those girls make it look routine.”
According to Niermann the women’s golf team success has been a years-long process starting with head coach Dominic Guarnieri recruiting top-tier talent every year and building a team-first environment that each of those players has committed to.
“Their focus is not on the outcome, but the process, which is a mindset that is very difficult to achieve in high-level athletics,” Niermann said. “It’s to the point now that we just expect them to win every time they tee it up, which is an incredibly unfair expectation, especially considering that, because of their elevated status, they often get into tournaments where they are taking on the best in the country on a regular basis.”
While UF sports teams have had a notable start, many teams are hitting conference play which is when things start getting tough.
“You never really know how things will go until you get into conference play and for football, volleyball, and men’s and women’s soccer, those critical games are now here,” Niermann said.
UF Oiler football goes into this weekend with a 2-0 record as it hits the road to Lake Erie College. Week one started with a tough matchup against No. 17 Indianapolis University that turned into a nail-biter 38-35 win over the Greyhounds. Week two was a battle of defense in a 7-3 win over Wayne State University.Kick off at Lake Erie is at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20. The Storm is 0-2 with a 6-63 loss to Ferris State University and a 31-35 loss to Wheeling University.
UF women’s volleyball broke into the top-25 in the country in the American Volleyball Coaches Association poll. The team’s record stands at 5-1, completing the Hampton Inn and Suits Grand Rapids Downtown Classic in Michigan 3-0, including a sweep of nationally ranked Gannon University (No. 16). On Friday, Sept. 19 the Oilers host the Tiffin University Dragons at 7 p.m. in Croy.
Keeping the positive start to the season going, both men’s and women’s cross-country teams came in first place in their first meet at the Northwood Invitational Sept. 6. Nearly a week later on Sept. 12, the women came in first again out of 10 teams at the Wayne State Warrior Challenge and the men came in third out of nine teams. The teams compete again Oct. 3 at the Ohio Wesleyan University invitational.
Men’s soccer took on No. 15 Cedarville University on Sept. 18. The Oilers are 1-2 overall coming up with their first win on Sept. 13 over Lock Haven. They play Kentucky Wesleyan at home Saturday, Sept. 20 starting at 4 p.m. The Panthers have tied in all four of their games so far this season.
Women’s soccer also played Cedarville University Sept. 18. The women are 1-1-2 so far this season. They beat Seton Hill 5-0, on Sept. 4. then tied 0-0 with Indiana-Pennsylvania Sept. 6. They also tied 1-1 at home against Ferris State Sept. 12. Saginaw Valley beat the Oilers 1-3 at home Sept. 14 for the Black Out DeHaven game.
“We’re excited to see how the season progresses,” Niermann said. “And we’re certainly proud of the start to the 2025-26 athletic year.”
