Friday night will see the Liberty Flames open their 2026 men’s soccer campaign at Osborne Stadium, welcoming the FGCU Eagles for a much‑anticipated home debut. The match, scheduled for 6 p.m., marks the first appearance of a revamped roster under first‑year head coach Scott Wells, who took over the program in January after a stint leading Gardner‑Webb.
A Fresh Start in the Southern Conference
During a two‑game road swing through San Diego, the Flames posted a 1‑1 record, defeating San Diego State 2‑1 before falling 3‑1 to the 18th‑ranked University of San Diego. Samson Kpardeh opened the season’s scoring in the win over San Diego State, while midfielder Javan Ochieng contributed two assists and helped set up the second goal. Midfielder Pablo Matavele also found the net, and defenders Ronnie Gorman, Finn van den Berg and Hugo Kopke each added an assist, underscoring a balanced attack.
Kpardeh’s performance earned him Southern Conference Player of the Week honors for the opening week, capping a debut season in which he was named to the Big South All‑Conference first team and All‑Region squad the previous year. Goalkeeper Dan Rose, who transferred from Marshall, logged 180 minutes between the posts, posting a 2.00 goals‑against average and a .636 save percentage, while his seven starts for Marshall in 2025 had yielded a 1.15 GAA.
Transfers and Coaching Vision
The Flames will field nine transfers this season, including Kpardeh, Ochieng and Rose, who bring experience from Gardner‑Webb, Marshall and other programs. Wells, who previously coached at Gardner‑Webb, emphasizes a competitive mindset as Liberty transitions from the Ohio Valley Conference to the Southern Conference, a league that includes nationally ranked Furman and UNCG. The move also restores a historic rivalry with FGCU, against whom the Eagles hold a 3‑1 edge in previous ASUN meetings, the most recent dating back to 2022.
With players hailing from 13 countries across six continents, the team blends international talent with domestic prospects, aiming to contend from the outset. The upcoming home opener offers a chance to gauge progress against a familiar ASUN opponent and to showcase the new coaching philosophy in front of a home crowd eager to see the Flames make an early statement in their new conference.