Lincoln Memorial University’s men’s soccer program, the defending SAC champions, has unveiled its 2026 campaign, a schedule that blends a rigorous conference slate with a series of high‑profile non‑conference tests.
Exhibition Preparations
Head coach Tom Gillette, who has guided the team to a 14‑5‑4 home record over his first three seasons, outlined the slate, noting three preseason exhibitions before the regular season begins.
The first exhibition will take the Railsplitters to Crestview Hills, Kentucky, where they will meet Thomas More on August 15, followed by home friendlies against Young Harris on August 19 and Lee University on August 22.
The regular season opens with a Florida road trip, beginning with a match against Palm Beach Atlantic on August 27 and concluding with a clash versus Nova Southeastern on August 29.
After returning home for a trio of September fixtures, LMU will host Wingate for its SAC opener on September 5, then welcome Lynn on September 8 and Lenoir‑Rhyne on September 16, before traveling to Newberry, South Carolina, and Tusculum, Tennessee, later in the month.
October brings a mix of road and home contests, including a neutral‑site showdown in Chattanooga against Auburn University Montgomery, and a series of SAC matchups against Emory & Henry, Catawba, and later Coker, Anderson and Carson‑Newman.
The season culminates with the SAC Tournament, beginning with quarterfinal games on October 31 at campus sites, and culminating in the semifinal and final on November 6 and 8 in Matthews, North Carolina.