Drake men's soccer is back on the pitch, ready to tackle a busy stretch of non‑conference play that will test the squad's depth and chemistry early in the 2026 season. After opening with two 1‑1 draws against Central Arkansas and Creighton, the Bulldogs have already seen Evan Carlson net both goals, a performance that earned him MVC Player of the Week honors and left him one strike shy of his single‑season career high.
A Fresh Coaching Era
Guiding the team this year is new head coach Christian Coridon, who arrives after guiding Wartburg College to back‑to‑back conference titles and NCAA Tournament berths. Coridon brings a winning pedigree and a clear tactical vision, aiming to translate that success to Drake's roster as they prepare for a series of high‑stakes matchups.
The Bulldogs' early schedule features a home game against Green Bay on Aug. 29 at Mediacom Stadium, followed by an exhibition against Wartburg College. Both opponents bring their own storylines: Green Bay, coached by John O'Reilly, holds a 20‑15‑5 record over three seasons and trails Drake 6‑4 in the all‑time series, while Wartburg's Knights, under Coridon's former assistant, are set to play their first official game of the season against Cornell College on Sep. 1.
Scouting the Opponents
Key contributors for Drake include Evan Carlson, Malachi Anya, Barrett Kitts and Tomas Butkovic, all of whom have already shown they can influence the game in the final third. Green Bay counters with a talented core of Noah Radeke, Nathan Moua and Drew Swancutt, while Wartburg will rely on Flori Gembo, Alima Mmunga and Joseph Svoboda to anchor their attack.
After the Green Bay encounter, Drake will host Milwaukee on Sep. 2 and Kansas City on Sep. 7, marking the start of a four‑game homestand that could set the tone for the remainder of the season. The atmosphere at Mediacom Stadium is expected to be electric, with fans eager to see how the new coaching staff's ideas mesh with the talent on display.