Final exhibition looms
The Mastodon men's soccer team will host the Bowling Green Falcons on August 14 at the Hefner Soccer Complex, marking the final exhibition match of the 2026 schedule and providing both squads a last opportunity to fine‑tune before the regular season begins.
Bowling Green arrives with a 5‑8‑4 record, 1‑4‑2 in the Missouri Valley Conference, and the two programs have met 19 times in regular‑season play, with Bowling Green holding a 10‑7‑2 edge in the series.
New faces and familiar veterans
The Mastodons are undergoing a noticeable reshuffle, welcoming a wave of newcomers that includes Jordan Rodgers, Nico Mullen, Marko Martsinkovsky, Kellen Larson, Jonny Escobedo, Kevin Whitlow, Jozef Palushaj, Davan Arias, Max Aquino, Finn Railey, Ben Graham and David Valencia.
Among the returning veterans, Aidan Antcliff, who transferred to Memphis after the 2024 campaign, is set to rejoin the roster, while Sep Habibi and Jonny Hernandez, both Horizon League All‑League selections in 2025, will provide leadership and experience.
In 2024 the Mastodons reached the Horizon League Championship match, only to fall to Cleveland State in extra time, a result that continues to shape the team's ambitions as they aim to translate preseason momentum into conference play.
The regular season will open on August 20 with a road game at Xavier, kicking off at 7 p.m., offering the first official test of the new‑looked squad and setting the tone for the upcoming schedule.