The Great Northwest Athletic Conference’s 2026 men’s soccer preseason coaches poll has positioned Seattle Pacific University as the early favorite, awarding the Falcons 32 points and two first‑place votes, just ahead of Western Oregon; the team is guided by coach Kevin Sakuda.
Both programs shared the 2025 regular‑season championship, each finishing with a 6‑2‑2 record and 20 points, while Seattle Pacific also captured the inaugural conference tournament trophy.
The upcoming season opens on September 24, and the GNAC tournament will run from November 5‑7 at Interbay Stadium, hosted by Seattle Pacific, with the champion earning an automatic berth to the 2026 NCAA West Region Championships in Kansas City, Missouri.
Coaching Transitions
Andrew May will take the helm of Western Oregon’s men’s soccer program in his first season, succeeding Michael Behonick, who compiled three winning campaigns at Monmouth, Ore.
Greg Brisbon, the second‑winningest coach in GNAC history, returns for his 14th season, bringing a career record of 111‑76‑37 and a league mark of 77‑46‑23.
Northwest Nazarene and Simon Fraser are tied for fourth in the preseason poll with 17 points each; Julio Castillo, newly appointed head coach at Northwest Nazarene, holds the conference’s career record for assists per game at 0.67, while Simon Fraser’s new coach Kevin Harmse inherits a team that finished 5‑4‑1 last season.
Tournament Outlook
Saint Martin’s enters the poll with just six points after a 1‑17 overall record and a winless 0‑10 conference slate, underscoring the league’s competitive depth. The GNAC tournament will conclude on November 7, and the champion will advance to the Division II national championships in Kansas City from December 3‑5.