Thursday, August 20
Durham, NC
12:00 PM
California Baptist University
at
Campbell University
Photo by: Matt Horrocks
MSOC PREVIEW: Lancers to Open the 2026 Season this Week in North Carolina
8/18/2026 12:00:00 PM | Men's Soccer
DURHAM, N.C. --- Opening week of the 2026 Division I men's soccer season has arrived, and a new era of California Baptist soccer is set to begin. Entering year one in the Pac-12, CBU will take to the road in week one, as the Lancers kick off the season with a pair of matches in North Carolina.
The Lancers come into the season after finishing 10-4-3 in 2025. It was a historic season for CBU as not only did the Lancers claim the final WAC regular season championship, but CBU also jumped into the United Soccer Coaches' top 25 rankings for the first time in the program's Division I era.
Head coach Coe Michaelson returns for his 11th season with the program, as his 2026 unit will feature 16 returners from the 2025 roster. Nine of the returning Lancers earned all-conference honors, including First-Team All-WAC honorees Stavros Charalampous, Haroun Conteh, Blake D'Agostino, and William Lawson.
Charalampous, D'Agostino, and Lawson were named players to watch on the United Soccer Coaches' Hermann Award preseason list.
The Lancers will be tested early and often this season, as four of their first six matches come against opponents either nationally ranked or receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Coaches' Poll. One of those matches will be on this opening road trip.
CBU will kick off the season on Thursday, August 20, when they battle the Fighting Camels of Campbell. This first-ever meeting of CBU and Campbell will take place on the campus of Duke University, which happens to be CBU's second opponent on Sunday, August 23.
Campbell ended the 2025 season 10-6-4, including a 4-2-2 mark in CAA conference action. Midfielder Xander Martin returns to the team as the lone Preseason All-CAA selection after four assists and a goal in 2025.
The Lancers' second opponent, Duke, comes into the season receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches' Preseason Poll. The Blue Devils have received recognition in another poll, Top Draw Soccer's Preseason Poll, which has Duke ranked No. 15. The Blue Devils were an NCAA Tournament host last season and picked up a pair of tournament victories before falling to Akron in the Third Round.
Duke ended the 2025 season 10-4-6 overall, including a 4-2-2 mark in the ACC.
Sunday's meeting with the Blue Devils will be the first-ever meeting between CBU and Duke, and it will be the Lancers' fifth matchup against a Power Four opponent since joining Division I in 2018. The Lancers are 0-3-1 in those matchups, with the lone draw being a 2024 scoreless affair against No. 6 North Carolina.
Both matches this week will air on ESPN+ as part of the ACC Network. Thursday's match against Campbell is scheduled to kick off at noon (PST), and Sunday's meeting with Duke will start at 12:30 p.m. (PST).
Following the trip to North Carolina, CBU will host Denver at the CBU Soccer Stadium on August 31. Season tickets for the 2026 season are available for only $50 HERE.
The Lancers come into the season after finishing 10-4-3 in 2025. It was a historic season for CBU as not only did the Lancers claim the final WAC regular season championship, but CBU also jumped into the United Soccer Coaches' top 25 rankings for the first time in the program's Division I era.
Head coach Coe Michaelson returns for his 11th season with the program, as his 2026 unit will feature 16 returners from the 2025 roster. Nine of the returning Lancers earned all-conference honors, including First-Team All-WAC honorees Stavros Charalampous, Haroun Conteh, Blake D'Agostino, and William Lawson.
Charalampous, D'Agostino, and Lawson were named players to watch on the United Soccer Coaches' Hermann Award preseason list.
The Lancers will be tested early and often this season, as four of their first six matches come against opponents either nationally ranked or receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Coaches' Poll. One of those matches will be on this opening road trip.
CBU will kick off the season on Thursday, August 20, when they battle the Fighting Camels of Campbell. This first-ever meeting of CBU and Campbell will take place on the campus of Duke University, which happens to be CBU's second opponent on Sunday, August 23.
Campbell ended the 2025 season 10-6-4, including a 4-2-2 mark in CAA conference action. Midfielder Xander Martin returns to the team as the lone Preseason All-CAA selection after four assists and a goal in 2025.
The Lancers' second opponent, Duke, comes into the season receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches' Preseason Poll. The Blue Devils have received recognition in another poll, Top Draw Soccer's Preseason Poll, which has Duke ranked No. 15. The Blue Devils were an NCAA Tournament host last season and picked up a pair of tournament victories before falling to Akron in the Third Round.
Duke ended the 2025 season 10-4-6 overall, including a 4-2-2 mark in the ACC.
Sunday's meeting with the Blue Devils will be the first-ever meeting between CBU and Duke, and it will be the Lancers' fifth matchup against a Power Four opponent since joining Division I in 2018. The Lancers are 0-3-1 in those matchups, with the lone draw being a 2024 scoreless affair against No. 6 North Carolina.
Both matches this week will air on ESPN+ as part of the ACC Network. Thursday's match against Campbell is scheduled to kick off at noon (PST), and Sunday's meeting with Duke will start at 12:30 p.m. (PST).
Following the trip to North Carolina, CBU will host Denver at the CBU Soccer Stadium on August 31. Season tickets for the 2026 season are available for only $50 HERE.
Players Mentioned
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