Lancers Open the Season with 2-0 Victory in Durham

Thursday, August 20

Durham, NC

12:00 PM

California Baptist University

1-0-0, 0-0-0

Campbell University

0-1-0, 0-0-0

Team	1	2	Final F
California Baptist	2	0	2
Campbell	0	0	0

Photo by: Matt Horrocks

Lancers Open the Season with 2-0 Victory in Durham

8/20/2026 3:01:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

By: Matt Horrocks, Assistant Athletic Director of Communications and Digital Media

DURHAM, N.C. --- The start of the 2026 Division I men's soccer season pitted California Baptist against the Fighting Camels of Campbell University. Two first-half goals were enough for California Baptist to pull out a 2-0 victory in Thursday's season-opening match.

Thursday's opener took place on a neutral pitch, as the Lancers set up shop in North Carolina this week for a pair of matches on the campus of Duke University.

The win, CBU's second consecutive season-opening victory, moves head coach Coe Michaelson to 99 victories during his time with the Lancers. Michaelson is in his 11th season in Riverside.

CBU needed 22 minutes before netting their first goal of the season. Fittingly, the opening tally came off the right foot of Blake D'Agostino, who came into the year following a career-high ten goals in 2025. D'Agostino was taken down in the penalty area, drawing a whistle from the center referee. Campbell challenged the call, sending the play to VAR, but after review, the call was confirmed.

First of the year 👏 pic.twitter.com/xioVJPiOpn
— California Baptist Men's Soccer (@CBUmsoccer) August 20, 2026

D'Agostino, a junior, now has 17 collegiate goals.

Another 22 minutes of soccer followed before the Lancers struck again, setting the score at 2-0 with just over a minute remaining in the first half. After Caden Jackson played a ball across midfield to Nico Coope, Coope set up a pass to Drew Hardin, who dribbled near the center of the field. Sprinting on the backend was sophomore Liam Jones, who collected the pass from Hardin and sent home a left-footed strike to make it 2-0.

44' | Liam Jones doubles the lead! #LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/dITgXyZRdK
— California Baptist Men's Soccer (@CBUmsoccer) August 20, 2026

Jones scored five goals in 2025. He was second on the team with three shots on Thursday, trailing D'Agostino, who ripped off four.

The Lancers out-possessed Campbell by four percent in the win and dominated the attack with 14 shots to Campbell's six. CBU finished with six attempts on goal, compared to two from the Camels.

Campbell's two attempts on frame were saved by goalkeeper Hugo Do Rego, who played all 90 minutes in his tenth collegiate shutout.

CBU will continue its North Carolina road trip on Sunday when the Lancers take on the Blue Devils of Duke. Sunday's match is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. (PST) and will air live on ESPN+.