Men's Soccer Aims to Take Step Forward in 2026

The 2026 St. Bonaventure University men’s soccer season officially gets underway on the road Thursday, Aug. 20 at Little Three rival Niagara. 

Thursday’s season opener marks the second season as head coach of the Bonnies for Mick Giordano.

Coach Giordano and the Bonnies will have their work cut out for them, however, as just 23 out of 67 points return from a season ago and 15 players overall from the fall roster. 

“The biggest thing the group has done, and it started in January with the returners and some of the new transfers that came in is to really try to bond together off the field,” Giordano said. “A big priority for the program is making it a wholesome family environment, but also one where you can challenge each other because everyone knows that they care about one another. We have some elite level teammates right now which allows us to have a positive outlook going into the season.”

Among those returning is senior Kyle Macfarlane who returns as the Bonnies returning leading scorer with 10 points on four goals and two assists. 

Also returning for Coach Giordano in 2026 are fellow seniors Daniel Helle (two goals), Callum Shillington (one goal, two assists), Alex Ohmart (two appearances) and Luc Finelli (missed season due to injury), juniors Neshawn Sutherland (one goal), Yaseen Khaled (one assist), Ritter Sundby (15 games played) and Christopher Mularadelis (one appearance) as well as sophomores Benjamin Haynes (15 games played), Brendan Sheehan (12 shots), Etienne Godin (one goal), Felix Schöne (37 saves), Bryce Strumeier (one appearance) and Harrison Nitz (missed season due to injury).

“We are not trying to overcomplicate things,” Giordano stated. “Going into year two, as a staff we are able to have guys that know the system but also know what we want to get out of it. Guys also know my expectations now and believe in those expectations while on the flip side, knowing these individuals more.”

New to the squad are fifth-year transfers Josh Seyer (St. Louis, Mo.) and Darien Martin (Palatine, Ill.), senior transfers Jackson Minneci (Wilmington, N.C.), Harvey Skurek (Cheltenham, England) and Jack Steel (London, United Kingdom), junior transfers Winston Jory (Brisbane, Australia) and Manex Landa (Zarautz, Spain) as well as sophomore transfers Dylan Mueller (Carlsbad, Calif.), Ryan Holt (London, England), Landon Weber (Chesterfield, Mo.), Bence Stanciu (Toronto, Ontario) and Maarten Schouten (Arnhem, Gelderland, Netherlands). 

Four freshmen are set to suit up for the Brown and White this season in Alistair McFall (Ottawa, Ontario), Ben Marsh (Halifax, Nova Scotia), Ethan Lustig (Manalapan, N.J.) and Michael Adenaike Jr. (Philadelphia, Pa.).

“The first two weeks have been trying to get them into the same mindset and same kind of ideology of what we are trying to do,” Giordano said. “Thankfully, our returning group has put their arm around all of the new guys and have led them in the right direction.”

The Bonnies will be tested during the non-conference portion of the 2026 slate which includes a matchup on the road with nationally ranked West Virginia Aug. 24 who is ranked No. 23 in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll. The Mountaineers picked up a win over St. John’s in the first round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. 

The non-conference schedule also features a trip to Boston College Sept. 8 as well as a second NCAA Tournament qualifier in Cleveland State which the Bonnies will host Sept. 22.

During Atlantic 10 play, the Bonnies will matchup against 2025 Atlantic 10 Tournament qualifiers VCU, Davidson, Fordham, Saint Joseph’s and La Salle.

The Bonnies will also square off against Loyola Chicago in The Windy City Oct. 17, marking the first matchup between the two schools since the Ramblers joined the Atlantic 10 in 2022. 

“Our biggest thing with the non-conference schedule was about how do we make sure we are tested, but also how do see similar pictures of some of the teams we will see in Atlantic 10 play,” Giordano added.