A New Chapter for the Blue Demons
DePaul University’s men’s soccer program will open its 2026 preseason on Saturday, August 8, when it welcomes No. 4‑ranked Saint Louis to Wish Field in Chicago. The match, scheduled for 3 p.m. Central time, is free to the public and will not be televised, but it promises a lively atmosphere as the Blue Demons begin a busy stretch of exhibition play.
Head coach Mark Plotkin, now in his ninth year at the helm, will guide a squad that blends 16 veterans with 12 newcomers, including five transfers and seven true freshmen. Among the returning leaders are seniors Noeh Hernandez, Keagan Pace and Liam Mullins, who together have amassed 80 career points, and graduate student Ethan Gordon, who enters his final collegiate season after logging 3,800 minutes across 43 appearances.
The Stage Is Set at Wish Field
Goalkeeper duties will be up for grabs, with Hayden Vostal, Chance Johnson of SMU and Connor Vela of Belton, Texas all vying for the starting spot after the departures of Santiago Davila and Clayton Brooks. The competition adds an extra layer of intrigue to the early schedule.
Saint Louis arrives with momentum from a 13‑3‑8 record last season that carried the Billikens to the College Cup semifinals. Under ninth‑year head coach Kevin Kalish, the team finished unbeaten in Atlantic 10 play at 5‑0‑3 and will look to carry that success into the new campaign.
The preseason slate also includes a home exhibition against Indian Hills Community College on August 12 and a road trip to Madison, Wisconsin, on August 15 before the regular season kicks off on the road against Bradley on August 20.