University of Massachusetts Lowell
University of the Incarnate Word
River Hawks Set To Kick Off 2026 Campaign
8/19/2026 5:00:00 PM | Men's Soccer
LOWELL, Mass. – As the summer starts to come to an end, the UMass Lowell men’s soccer team is ready to get back to work and build on last season, the most successful season under Head Coach Kyle Zenoni. Competing in one of the best conferences in the nation, the River Hawks will need to battle every day to earn another spot in the America East Tournament. The 2026 campaign begins in Texas on Thursday, August 20, when they visit the University of the Incarnate Word, followed by a trip to Houston Christian University on Sunday, August 23.
I think when you have a little bit of success, all of a sudden you want more of it. The program has gone through a lot over the years, and you saw it start turning a little bit. I’m so thankful for the team I had last year and how they fought, and now we have a group of guys that are ready to fight and want more of it. I know that as we get into things, and the conference is so hard, there’s no game that is guaranteed, and we know that. I know we have a group that can compete with anyone in the country at this point, and I’m excited to see when it all comes together what we look like at the end of the season.Head Coach Kyle Zenoni
This year’s roster is nearly an even split between returners and newcomers, as the River Hawks brought back 16 players from the 2025 season while adding 15. Although the roster has seen a lot of change, UMass Lowell returns its four top scorers from last year in seniors Linus Musielak (Dortmund, Germany), Ethan Young (Kansas City, Mo.), Alex Champagne (Pembroke Pines, Fl.), and redshirt junior Justin Pham (Liverpool, N.Y.). Junior midfielder Cristiano Da Silva (Port Coquitlam, British Columbia) is back for his third season after finishing last year with 1282 minutes logged, the third most on the team, while sophomore Alvaro Medrano (Guatemala City, Guatemala) is back after making seven starts in net last season.
Over the offseason, the coaching staff was hard at work filling out the roster, bringing in 13 transfers alongside two freshmen. With each player bringing a unique set of skills, Zenoni expects them to make a big impact on the program right away.
"I'm expecting a lot of the new guys to jump in and compete for starting spots," said Zenoni. "I expect they'll contribute a lot whether they start or come off the bench; they'll be a big part of it. The expectation is to try and get better. I think the returners have done a good job of pushing them, and the new guys have done a good job of pushing the returners. I think what I'm seeing now is these guys are going to play a big part in what we have moving forward."
After opening up the season with two games in Texas, the River Hawks will host CCSU in the home opener on August 27 before a road matchup against Massachusetts (Sep. 2). UMass Lowell will then welcome Holy Cross to Cushing Field (Sep. 8) followed by trips to Iona (Sep. 12) and Merrimack (Sep. 15) before hosting Manhattan (Sep. 18) to wrap up nonconference play.
The River Hawks open conference play on the road, taking on the UMBC Retrievers on September 26 before flying home to welcome the UAlbany Great Danes on October 3. After a trip to New York to battle Binghamton (Oct. 10), UMass Lowell hosts back-to-back matches against Bryant (Oct. 17) and NJIT (Oct. 24). Finally, the River Hawks head to New Hampshire (Oct. 30) for a Friday night battle before wrapping up the regular season at home against Vermont (Nov. 3).
Men's Soccer 2026 Schedule
Although every season comes with different challenges, this year is different for the River Hawks, as they will play every game with their hearts on their sleeves after losing teammate Toby Forsythe over the summer in a tragic accident. Only joining UMass Lowell in the winter, Forsythe left his mark on this team and program, and the River Hawks will carry it with them through all the ups and downs of the season.
“This season means a lot,” commented Champagne. “Losing Toby was a crazy stop to our world. It was so unexpected and so tragic. We can’t take any chance we get to step on the field for granted. Toby would’ve loved to be here. He was such an inspiration, with his soccer journey and how hard he worked. We’re gonna play for him every time we step on the field. Even if it’s practice, even if it’s going to lift, we need to remember he would’ve done anything to be here, so this season means a lot to us.”
Musielak shared the same sentiment.
“This season means more than any other season with Toby passing,” added the German forward. “The group needs to stick together and fight through adversity. We realize it’s a privilege to be on the pitch and play, and we can’t take that for granted. We have something greater to play for than just ourselves or our team.”
“This season in general, we’re grateful to be here,” concluded Zenoni. “Toby was a guy who wanted to compete every day, was grateful for the opportunity, and we know when we step on the field we’re playing for something greater than UMass Lowell. A friend of ours lost his life, and it’s hard. The maturity of the group has shone. We keep him and his family in our minds and prayers. At the end of the day, life is really, really important, and we should be grateful and honored to be here. This season means a lot, and it’s something pretty big to us.”
