Southern Oregon University’s men’s soccer team, known as the Raiders, entered the 2026 preseason Cascade Conference poll in sixth position, a spot that reflects both the program’s recent stability and the challenges that lie ahead.
The roster will feature just three returning starters, a reality that has been compounded by a late‑season injury bug that hampered the 2025 campaign and by the graduation of four all‑conference players, including the team’s top scorer and two former Defensive Players of the Year.
A Roster Rebuilt
Head coach Davie Carmichael, who enters his ninth season with a career record of 69‑16‑9 in conference play, will oversee a squad that adds 17 newcomers, nine of whom are transfers from institutions such as Simpson (Calif.), The Master’s (Calif.) and Arizona Christian.
Among the returning players are junior midfielder Jonathan Gaspar and forward Ariel De Dios Cruz, the latter of whom suffered a season‑ending injury in the sixth game of 2025, while the rest of the lineup will rely heavily on the chemistry forged during the offseason.
Defending Champion’s Path
Eastern Oregon, the inaugural Cascade Conference champion, will defend its first title with five starters returning from an unbeaten 13‑0‑6 season, setting a high bar for the Raiders and the rest of the league.
The Raiders’ schedule opens on August 22 at Simpson (Calif.), followed by home matches on September 3 and 4 against The Master’s (Calif.) and Arizona Christian, providing early opportunities to test the new-look lineup.
Conference Landscape
Carroll (Mont.) was slotted second in the preseason poll, while Warner Pacific claimed third despite having captured the 2025 tournament as a No. 3 seed, underscoring the competitive balance that defines the Cascade Conference.