Doug Pfeiler

The Corban men's soccer team celebrates a goal scored against Lewis & Clark College.

Men's Soccer 8/3/2026 5:00:00 PM Clayton Messerle, Assistant Athletic Director

Men’s Soccer Season Preview – Warriors Enter New Era Under Keegan Alongside Experienced Returners, Impact Recruiting Class

SALEM, Ore. – A new chapter begins for the Corban University Men's Soccer program in 2026 as first-year head coach Jordan Keegan takes the reins of the Warriors, inheriting a roster that blends experienced returners, positional versatility, and one of the largest recruiting classes in recent program history. Following a 4-10-4 campaign in 2025, Corban will look to quickly reestablish itself as a contender in the always-competitive Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) behind a combination of veteran leadership and 23 newcomers joining the program this fall.

"I'm extremely excited to get going and finally get on the field after months of anticipation," shared Keegan entering his inaugural season as head coach of the Warriors. "The group thus far has been excellent to work with and are going to push the program forward in big ways this season. One of our main goals this year is to leave each place better than we found it, and we will look to take that approach as we work this season. It's a young team with a lot of new faces, but a group that I believe will work very well together."

Keegan, a former Warrior student-athlete and member of the coaching staff before spending six years with the Portland Timbers organization, returns to Salem with a clear vision for the future of the program. His inaugural squad will feature 15 returners and 23 newcomers, resulting in one of the most dramatically reshaped rosters in the conference.

While the Warriors missed the CCC Tournament in 2025, several close conference battles and the return of multiple key contributors provide reason for optimism entering the fall. Corban returns five starters from last year's team and welcomes an influx of talent capable of making an immediate impact across every position group.

Season Schedule/Key Matchups

The Warriors will have multiple opportunities to prepare for regular season competition before officially opening the campaign. Corban begins the preseason with a scrimmage against Lane Community College on August 8th before hosting the University of the Fraser Valley on August 19th. An exhibition contest against Chemeketa Community College on August 22nd will invite the hustling campus to attend the first home sporting event of the 2026-27 school year during the annual Warrior Welcome event, allowing Keegan and his staff additional opportunities to evaluate their revamped roster before matches begin to count in the standings.

The regular season opens with road contests against NCAA DIII schools Pacific University and George Fox University before the Warriors return home for matches against Pacific Union College and NCAA DIII Lewis & Clark College in early September. Those contests will provide an important measuring stick as Corban works to establish its identity under a new coaching staff.

Cascade Conference play begins on September 17th when the Warriors host the University of Providence. The road to a conference tournament berth immediately becomes challenging after that, as Corban welcomes perennial conference powers Eastern Oregon University and The College of Idaho to Salem on consecutive nights during the opening conference homestand.

Additional key home league contests include matchups against Bushnell University, Oregon Tech, and Southern Oregon University in October. The matchup against the Raiders will serve as the Warriors' senior day contest as well. Corban will conclude conference play with a difficult trip to Montana to face Carroll College and Rocky Mountain College before the CCC Championships begin in early November.

Conference Outlook

The CCC once again poises to be among the NAIA's toughest men's soccer conferences. Programs such as Eastern Oregon, College of Idaho, Southern Oregon, Oregon Tech, and Warner Pacific have consistently battled for conference and national postseason positioning, making every conference result critical.

For Corban, the primary goal will be returning to the CCC Tournament after narrowly missing qualification in consecutive seasons. The Warriors possess more roster depth than a season ago and should benefit from an experienced core alongside a recruiting class loaded with transfers and accomplished high school standouts. If the newcomers adapt quickly and the returning players elevate their production, the Navy and Gold have the potential to make significant strides in the conference standings.

Key Losses/Returners

The Warriors must replace several significant pieces from last year's squad, most notably Second Team All-CCC defender/forward Alexander Guindy. Guindy started all 17 matches, logged over 1,400 minutes, and contributed three goals and two assists while serving as one of the team's most versatile and impactful players.

Midfielder Santiago Castano also leaves a substantial void after leading Corban with four goals, four assists, and 12 total points during his final season. Castano paced the team in assists and was one of only two players to start all 17 contests. Goalkeeper Isaac Pureco likewise departs after starting 17 matches and recording 59 saves in net.

Fortunately for the Navy and Gold, several key contributors return. Junior forward Zachary Milczarek headlines the returning group after leading the team with five goals while starting 15 matches. The Australian striker earned CSC Academic All-District recognition and should once again anchor the Warrior attack.

Senior midfielder Alejandro Andrade returns as one of the team's most experienced field players after starting 15 contests and logging over 1,200 minutes last season. His leadership and composure in the midfield will be critical for a roster integrating a handful of newcomers. Senior defender Aaron James also returns after starting all 15 matches he appeared in during 2025. James contributed a goal while serving as one of Corban's most reliable defenders, and his experience should be invaluable along the back line.

Additionally, Sophomore midfielder Josue Lomeli emerged as another key returning piece after appearing in all 17 matches and making 13 starts. Lomeli scored a goal and added an assist while learning to establish himself as an important contributor in the midfield.

Newcomers to Watch

Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of the 2026 Warriors is the massive recruiting class assembled by Keegan and his coaching staff. The group includes 23 student-athletes from across the United States and abroad, bringing both collegiate experience and proven winning pedigrees to the program.

The goalkeeping competition should be one of the team's most important preseason storylines. Redshirt sophomore transfer Rylan Davidson arrives from NCAA Division II Western Oregon University and possesses the size, athleticism, and experience necessary to challenge for immediate playing time following Pureco's graduation. Junior transfers Jake Jenner and Gilmer Gomez provide additional collegiate experience in goal, while freshmen Christian Orozco and Malachi Wilson arrive with decorated prep résumés.

Defensively, freshman Oswaldo Cerda Pacheco stands out as a player capable of making an immediate impact. The versatile defender competed with both Deportivo Rose City and the Portland Timbers Academy and can play either center back or full back. Fellow newcomers Johnny Garcia, Timothy Antonov, Elijah Vergara, and Hayden Gatchet add further depth and quality to the back line.

The midfield receives a major boost from international transfer Inaki Lambarri, who arrives from Salt Lake Community College after developing within Argentina's Club Atlético Patronato system. Freshmen Giovanni Alarcon and Abraham Lopez also enter the program with impressive club and high school credentials and could challenge for significant minutes.

Up front, Corban adds numerous attacking options including junior transfers Jesus Mendoza, Julian Garcia-Reynoso, and Alvaro Castellon. Mendoza produced six goals and eight assists at Lake Tahoe Community College, while Castellon arrives as an accomplished striker from Walla Walla Community College. Freshmen Brycen Bennett, Antonio Virrueta, James Tomlinson, and Jesus Garrido provide additional scoring options and offensive depth.

Warrior Whims (Final Thoughts)

The 2026 season represents far more than the beginning of another campaign for Corban Men's Soccer. It marks the start of a new era under Keegan, a former Warrior whose familiarity with the program's culture and expectations positions him well to guide the transition.

While replacing six starters and multiple statistical leaders will not be easy, the Warriors enter the season with reasons for optimism. Milczarek, Andrade, James, and Lomeli provide a veteran foundation, while one of the deepest recruiting classes in recent memory gives Corban significantly more depth and competition throughout the roster.

The ultimate success of this year's squad will likely depend on how quickly a collection of newcomers can gel with the returning core. If the Warriors can solidify the goalkeeping position, generate more consistent offensive production, and translate their added depth into conference results, a return to the CCC Tournament is well within reach. For a program entering a new chapter looking to return to their postseason triumphs achieved less than a decade ago on a regular basis, 2026 offers an opportunity to lay the foundation for sustained success while immediately competing for a postseason berth.