A Promising Start on the Road
Elon University’s men’s soccer squad kicks off the 2026 campaign with a test on the road, traveling to Norfolk, Virginia, to face Old Dominion on August 24 at 6 p.m. The matchup marks the ninth meeting in program history, a series in which the Phoenix hold a 1‑5‑2 edge.
Preseason expectations have the team positioned at the top of the CAA South Division, having earned nine of ten first‑place votes in the league’s poll. Building on a breakthrough season that delivered the program’s first CAA Tournament title and an NCAA Tournament berth, the roster returns its leading point‑scorers and welcomes a fresh infusion of talent.
Key Returners and New Faces
Among the returnees, Martin Kozak, the 2025 CAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player, and Dominik Renz, the 2025 Rookie of the Year, headline a group that also includes Jahmir Flowers and Jordin Wilson. Their combined experience should provide stability after a stretch of three consecutive clean sheets that helped seal a 6‑4 semifinal victory over Campbell.
Newcomers Daire McCarthy, Caleb Frakes, Tønnes Daland and Graham Jones are slated to make their Elon debuts in the upcoming contest, adding depth to a squad that opened the season with a 3‑0 win over VMI, featuring goals and assists from Kozak and Flowers.
Opponent Outlook
Old Dominion, under third‑year head coach Tennant McVea, enters the game at 1‑0 after a 3‑1 road triumph over George Washington. The Monarchs will look to leverage home‑field advantage as they seek to extend their early‑season momentum.
The Phoenix’s defensive consistency, highlighted by a trio of shutouts, will be tested against a Monarchs attack that has already shown the ability to score in bunches. Coach McVea’s side will aim to exploit set‑piece situations, a facet that proved decisive in their recent win.
With the season’s first test looming, the team’s chemistry and depth appear poised to translate preseason optimism into early results, setting the tone for a campaign that could once again place Elon among the CAA’s elite.