The University of Jamestown’s men’s soccer team will begin its 2026 campaign with a home match against Morningside University on August 27, marking the first step of a demanding schedule that blends non‑conference fixtures with early meetings against Great Northwest Athletic Conference rivals.
Second‑year head coach Justin Gilfert, who previously guided programs at Adams State and Hilbert College, says the team has forged a clearer identity after a year of growth, and he is eager to see how the returning core can translate that progress into results.
Among the key returnees are goalkeepers Valon Ismaili and Conner Warren, who combined for 23 saves in the 2025 season, as well as midfielders Will Tubaro, Clayton Kepler, Josh Jackson, Freddie Tomkinson and Nathan Kopecky, giving the Jimmies a blend of experience and youthful energy.
The 15‑game slate includes three NAIA opponents and twelve NCAA Division II contests, six of which pit Jamestown against GNAC members such as Northwest Nazarene, Saint Martin’s, Simon Fraser, Western Oregon, Upper Iowa and Western Washington. The early portion of the schedule features home games versus South Dakota Mines and Dakota Wesleyan before the team hits the road for Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference matchups.
Gilfert hopes that a strong start will ease the transition to full GNAC membership in 2027, a move solidified by a three‑year affiliate agreement. The coaching staff will also welcome graduate assistant Marko Madaras, a former NJCAA player who brings recent collegiate experience from Oklahoma Panhandle State.