Thursday, August 20
Charlotte, N.C.
7:00 PM
West Virginia University
at
Charlotte
Mountaineers Travel to Charlotte to Open 2026 Season
August 19, 2026 12:05 PM | Men's Soccer
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The No. 23 West Virginia University men's soccer team opens its 66th season on Thursday, Aug. 20, as it hits the road to take on Charlotte. Kickoff from Jen Gaber Field is set for 7 p.m.
The game will air on ESPN+ with live stats available at WVUSports.com.
The Mountaineers are coming off 13-5-3 season and their third straight NCAA Tournament appearance. In the Sun Belt Preseason Coaches Poll, WVU was picked to win the league, the first time the Mountaineers are preseason favorites since 2022.
Senior Pablo Pozos was named the 2026 Sun Belt Preseason Offensive Player of the Year after tallying 11 goals and three assists in his first season with the Mountaineers. Junior midfielders Isaac Scheer and Nacho Martinez joined Pozos on the Preseason All-Conference Team.
Overall, the Mountaineers return 15 players from last year's squad while adding 15 newcomers. Six players join WVU out of the transfer portal while there are nine first-year college players suiting up for the Gold and Blue.
Charlotte is the defending regular-season co-champions in the American Conference and were picked to win the league once again, its third straight year as the preseason favorite.
Natsuki Ogata was named the Preseason Co-Offensive Player of the Year while Samuel Manufor earned Preseason Defensive Player of the Year honors. Manufor, Ogata, and James Nyandjo were all named to the Preseason All-Conference Team.
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUMensSoccer on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
The game will air on ESPN+ with live stats available at WVUSports.com.
The Mountaineers are coming off 13-5-3 season and their third straight NCAA Tournament appearance. In the Sun Belt Preseason Coaches Poll, WVU was picked to win the league, the first time the Mountaineers are preseason favorites since 2022.
Senior Pablo Pozos was named the 2026 Sun Belt Preseason Offensive Player of the Year after tallying 11 goals and three assists in his first season with the Mountaineers. Junior midfielders Isaac Scheer and Nacho Martinez joined Pozos on the Preseason All-Conference Team.
Overall, the Mountaineers return 15 players from last year's squad while adding 15 newcomers. Six players join WVU out of the transfer portal while there are nine first-year college players suiting up for the Gold and Blue.
Charlotte is the defending regular-season co-champions in the American Conference and were picked to win the league once again, its third straight year as the preseason favorite.
Natsuki Ogata was named the Preseason Co-Offensive Player of the Year while Samuel Manufor earned Preseason Defensive Player of the Year honors. Manufor, Ogata, and James Nyandjo were all named to the Preseason All-Conference Team.
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUMensSoccer on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Players Mentioned
Tuesday, August 18
Sunday, November 23
Tuesday, November 11
Thursday, November 06
