Opening Week Preview
The University of North Carolina Greensboro men’s soccer team is gearing up for a pivotal opening week that will set the tone for the 2026 season. On Thursday, August 20, the Spartans will host VCU, followed by a home clash with the San Francisco Dons on Sunday, August 23.
Ranked 14th nationally by United Soccer Coaches and 11th by TopDrawerSoccer, the Spartans enter the campaign after a 12‑5‑6 record that carried them to the NCAA Third Round last year, where they fell to the eventual national runner‑up NC State on penalties.
Coach Dave Giffard’s squad confronts one of the toughest slates in the country, a schedule that mirrors the ninth‑toughest from the previous year and includes five opponents currently listed in the national top‑20.
Key Returning Players
Among the returning core are forwards Steven Hernandez and Pablo Torre, defender Trym Linberg, and midfielders Mohammad Sumaila and Seth Wilson, all of whom earned preseason All‑Conference honors in the Southern Conference.
Opponent Spotlight
The first test arrives on Thursday, August 20, when the Spartans host VCU. The Rams, led by head coach Dave Giffard in his 17th season, boast seniors Sulaiman Abdul‑Mateen and Andrey Salmeron, who each contributed eight points a year ago.
Three days later, UNCG will welcome the San Francisco Dons, a program that posted a 10‑6‑1 record in 2025, its most wins since 2017, and reached No. 20 in the NCAA rankings. Key returnees for the Dons include Braydon Beason, David Raphael and freshman standout Ben Norris, all recognized on the First Team All‑WCC.
Beyond the opening pair, the Spartans are slated to meet several other ranked foes, including No. 2 NC State, No. 3 Furman and No. 17 Marshall, with those matchups clustered between October 3 and 13.
With a blend of experienced veterans and fresh talent, UNCG hopes to translate its early‑season challenges into a sustained push toward another deep NCAA run.