GRANTHAM, Pa. - With the 2026 Messiah University men's soccer season beginning next Tuesday, check out the season preview below.
2025 Season Recap
The Falcons finished the 2025 season with a 13-8-2 overall record with a 6-0-1 record in MAC Commonwealth play. The Falcons claimed their seventh-straight MAC Commonwealth Championship with a 2-0 win over Stevenson University to earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Falcons took down undefeated Hobart in overtime in the opening round and then Calvin, 3-0 in the Second Round to advance to the second weekend. The Falcons then fell to the top-ranked Jumbos of Tufts in the Sweet Sixteen to end the 2026 season.
2026 Roster Outlook
The Falcons return a strong group from their 2025 Sweet Sixteen run. The Falcons strength entering the season looks to be the defense core as
Zach Buys,
Caleb Daniels,
Matt Griffin,
Jack Marcantonio,
Davis Rody,
Matt Schumacher, and
Grant Shreiner all return to the Falcons back line and defensive midfield. The group helped the Falcons' defense earn shutouts in nine of the last 11 games in 2025.
Kessler Forrest also returns after starting 20 games in goal for the Falcons last season. The Falcons offensive group is led by
Sam Phillips and
Kyle Spodnik, who look to build off strong 2025 seasons.
Jalen Keller,
Elijah Perry,
Gianni Pezzino,
Gabe Redcay, and
Owen Resch also look to grow in their roles on the offensive end this season. The Falcons also added nine talented first-year players who look to compete for minutes throughout the season.
2026 Schedule
The Falcons open the 2026 season with a pair of road games against the seventeenth-ranked Royals of the University of Scranton (Sept. 1) and Franciscan University (Sept. 5). The Falcons host their home opener on Wednesday, Sept. 9 at 5:00 p.m. against No. 6 Dickinson College. The Falcons then host two-straight home games against Penn St. Harrisburg (Sept. 12) and Elizabethtown on Tuesday, Sept. 15 for the Marshmallow Bowl after it was moved to Messiah. The Falcons round out the non-conference schedule at Vassar (Sept. 19), against LBC (Sept. 23), at Mary Washington (Sept. 26), and at Lycoming (Sept. 30). The Falcons open conference play during homecoming weekend on Saturday, Oct. 3 at 6:00 p.m. against Stevenson. The Falcons also host Albright (Oct. 17), York (Oct. 21), and Eastern on Oct. 31 to cap off the 2026 regular season.
United Soccer Coaches Preseason Top 20
| 1. Tufts University |
11. Cortland |
| 2. Trinity (Tx.) |
12. Rowan University |
| 3. St. Olaf College |
13. Macalester College |
| 4. Emory University |
14. University of Lynchburg |
| 5. Bowdoin College |
14. Washington University (Mo.) |
| 6. Dickinson College |
16. Messiah University |
| 7. Wheaton College (Mass.) |
17. University of Scranton |
| 8. Augsburg College |
18. Brandeis University |
| 9. Connecticut College |
19. Middlebury College |
| 10. Williams College |
20. University of Chicago |
MAC Commonwealth Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Messiah - 62 (7)
2. York - 55 (1)
3. Stevenson - 46 (1)
4. Neumann - 45
5. Hood - 34
6. Widener - 28
7. Alvernia - 24
8. Eastern - 22
9. Albright - 8
