Friday, August 28
New York, N.Y.
7:00 p.m.
Columbia
vs
Army West Point
The 2026 Columbia Men's Soccer Team
Photo by: Columbia University Athletics / Stockton Photo, Inc.
Men’s Soccer Begins the 2026 Season at Home Friday Night
8/27/2026 3:52:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Lions host Army West Point at 7 p.m.
NEW YORK — The 2026 Columbia men's soccer season begins Friday when the Lions host Army West Point (0-0-2). The match begins at 7 p.m. from Rocco B. Commisso Soccer Stadium at the Baker Athletics Complex.
GAME COVERAGE:
Fans can watch Friday's home and season opener live on ESPN+. Fans can also track live stats courtesy of GoColumbiaLions.com. In-game updates will also be provided on the @CULionsMSOC social media accounts.
TRIBUTE TO COMMISSO
Columbia will honor the memory of Rocco B. Commisso '71SEAS '75BUS throughout the 2026 season with a commemorative patch featuring his initials, "RBC," on its kits. Commisso, who passed away on Jan. 16, 2026, at age 76, was a standout Columbia men's soccer player, longtime supporter of Columbia Athletics and accomplished business leader.
A three-year All-Ivy League honoree as both a defensive and offensive player, Commisso helped lead the Lions to winning records in each of his four seasons. As co-captain of the 1970 team, he helped guide Columbia to its first NCAA Tournament appearance.
Commisso went on to become a successful entrepreneur, founding Mediacom Communications in 1995 and building it into one of the nation's largest cable television providers. He remained closely connected to soccer throughout his life, including ownership roles with the New York Cosmos and Italian Serie A club ACF Fiorentina.
THE 2026 CAPTAINS
Columbia men's soccer announced that its team captains for the 2026 season are seniors Jackson ten Oever, Jack McDaid and Joe McDaid. Ten Oever is an All-Ivy League Honorable Mention and two-time CSC Academic All-District selection who has been a mainstay in the starting lineup throughout his career. Joe McDaid and Jack McDaid are in their third year at Columbia after playing together at Maryland as freshmen. Jack earned Second Team All-Ivy League distinction last year, registering three goals and two assists out of his midfield position. The trio brings veteran leadership, defensive toughness, and proven capability in key moments heading into their senior seasons with the Lions.
THE NEWCOMERS
Head coach Michael Casper and his staff welcomed a talented class of newcomers to the 2026 roster. The balanced incoming class includes two goalkeepers, two defenders, two midfielders and two forwards.
Speaking on the incoming class, Casper stated, "We want players that fit the model of what we want Columbia men's soccer to look like – hard-working and technical with the ability to become difference makers."
The new group of Lions includes impactful fresh faces across the pitch, including additions to the defense, midfield, and forward lines, who will push for immediate playing time and elevate the competitive environment.
In what is now his fourth season leading the Lions, head coach Michael Casper will look to turn the corner and bring the program back to prominence. With an experienced returning foundation and an energetic incoming class, Columbia looks to start the 2026 campaign strong. In his season preview, Casper talked about the team's competitiveness against the teams that qualified for the 2025 Ivy League Tournament. Columbia earned a convincing 3-1 win over Harvard, a 2-2 draw against Penn, and played highly competitive matches against nationally-ranked Cornell and Princeton.
"To think that you can get a win and a tie off of the top four and be in the games that the other two, you're not far away," he stated. "We need to be better with our finishing this fall, but when I think about the way that we played, there was a lot of improvement.
"I think this group of guys is going to have their hands full in replacing some of that leadership and … ability that
last year's class brought to the field. But I'm excited about the opportunity that they have."
Fans can catch the full interview with Coach Casper ahead of the start of the season on GoColumbiaLions.TV.
ABOUT COLUMBIA MEN'S SOCCER
The 2026 season marks the 79th varsity season of men's soccer at Columbia University. The program was established in 1906 but discontinued as a varsity sport from 1916-57. The program regained its varsity status in 1957 and played 63 straight seasons until the 2020 campaign was canceled due to COVID.
Columbia men's soccer came to prominence in the late '70s, advancing to their first NCAA Tournament in 1978 before going all the way to the Final Four in 1979. After multiple NCAA Tournament appearances and Ivy League championships through the early '80s, the Lions made a run to the NCAA Tournament Championship Game in 1983. Columbia defeated UConn, 4-0, in the Final Four to take on Indiana for the National Championship. The Hoosiers outlasted Columbia, 1-0, in overtime.
Columbia owns 10 Ivy League championships and 13 NCAA Tournament appearances all-time.
Army West Point enters Friday's matchup with a 0-0-2 record. The Black Knights opened the 2026 season on August 20 with a 1-1 draw against service academy rival Air Force, followed by a second consecutive draw on the road against No. 10 Akron on Monday. Friday night's contest against Columbia marks the third straight match away from West Point to start the season for the Black Knights.
Freshman Gunnar Guest scored Army's opening goal of the season in the 59th minute against Air Force off an assist from Jacob Nguyen. The Black Knights return key upperclassmen leadership across the pitch.
Friday will mark the 21st all-time meeting between Columbia and Army West Point. The Lions hold a 9-7-4 advantage in a series which dates back to 1959. The last time the two programs met was October 14, 2025, in West Point, which resulted in a 2-2 draw.
FOLLOW THE LIONS:
For the latest on Columbia men's soccer, be sure to follow the team on Twitter and Instagram (@CULionsMSOC), on Facebook (ColumbiaMensSoccer), or by visiting GoColumbiaLions.com.
GAME COVERAGE:
Fans can watch Friday's home and season opener live on ESPN+. Fans can also track live stats courtesy of GoColumbiaLions.com. In-game updates will also be provided on the @CULionsMSOC social media accounts.
TRIBUTE TO COMMISSO
Columbia will honor the memory of Rocco B. Commisso '71SEAS '75BUS throughout the 2026 season with a commemorative patch featuring his initials, "RBC," on its kits. Commisso, who passed away on Jan. 16, 2026, at age 76, was a standout Columbia men's soccer player, longtime supporter of Columbia Athletics and accomplished business leader.
A three-year All-Ivy League honoree as both a defensive and offensive player, Commisso helped lead the Lions to winning records in each of his four seasons. As co-captain of the 1970 team, he helped guide Columbia to its first NCAA Tournament appearance.
Commisso went on to become a successful entrepreneur, founding Mediacom Communications in 1995 and building it into one of the nation's largest cable television providers. He remained closely connected to soccer throughout his life, including ownership roles with the New York Cosmos and Italian Serie A club ACF Fiorentina.
THE 2026 CAPTAINS
Columbia men's soccer announced that its team captains for the 2026 season are seniors Jackson ten Oever, Jack McDaid and Joe McDaid. Ten Oever is an All-Ivy League Honorable Mention and two-time CSC Academic All-District selection who has been a mainstay in the starting lineup throughout his career. Joe McDaid and Jack McDaid are in their third year at Columbia after playing together at Maryland as freshmen. Jack earned Second Team All-Ivy League distinction last year, registering three goals and two assists out of his midfield position. The trio brings veteran leadership, defensive toughness, and proven capability in key moments heading into their senior seasons with the Lions.
THE NEWCOMERS
Head coach Michael Casper and his staff welcomed a talented class of newcomers to the 2026 roster. The balanced incoming class includes two goalkeepers, two defenders, two midfielders and two forwards.
Speaking on the incoming class, Casper stated, "We want players that fit the model of what we want Columbia men's soccer to look like – hard-working and technical with the ability to become difference makers."
The new group of Lions includes impactful fresh faces across the pitch, including additions to the defense, midfield, and forward lines, who will push for immediate playing time and elevate the competitive environment.
YEAR FOUR UNDER CASPER
In what is now his fourth season leading the Lions, head coach Michael Casper will look to turn the corner and bring the program back to prominence. With an experienced returning foundation and an energetic incoming class, Columbia looks to start the 2026 campaign strong. In his season preview, Casper talked about the team's competitiveness against the teams that qualified for the 2025 Ivy League Tournament. Columbia earned a convincing 3-1 win over Harvard, a 2-2 draw against Penn, and played highly competitive matches against nationally-ranked Cornell and Princeton.
"To think that you can get a win and a tie off of the top four and be in the games that the other two, you're not far away," he stated. "We need to be better with our finishing this fall, but when I think about the way that we played, there was a lot of improvement.
"I think this group of guys is going to have their hands full in replacing some of that leadership and … ability that
last year's class brought to the field. But I'm excited about the opportunity that they have."
Fans can catch the full interview with Coach Casper ahead of the start of the season on GoColumbiaLions.TV.
ABOUT COLUMBIA MEN'S SOCCER
The 2026 season marks the 79th varsity season of men's soccer at Columbia University. The program was established in 1906 but discontinued as a varsity sport from 1916-57. The program regained its varsity status in 1957 and played 63 straight seasons until the 2020 campaign was canceled due to COVID.
Columbia men's soccer came to prominence in the late '70s, advancing to their first NCAA Tournament in 1978 before going all the way to the Final Four in 1979. After multiple NCAA Tournament appearances and Ivy League championships through the early '80s, the Lions made a run to the NCAA Tournament Championship Game in 1983. Columbia defeated UConn, 4-0, in the Final Four to take on Indiana for the National Championship. The Hoosiers outlasted Columbia, 1-0, in overtime.
Columbia owns 10 Ivy League championships and 13 NCAA Tournament appearances all-time.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT🗓️ 2026 Schedule Announcement!
— Columbia Men's Soccer (@CULionsMSOC) July 16, 2026
➡️ Season Opener at Home Aug. 28
➡️ 8 Home Matches
📰 https://t.co/8SQQM4CZtC#RoarLionRoar 🦁 // #OnlyHere 🗽 pic.twitter.com/dhyaTK5vhX
Army West Point enters Friday's matchup with a 0-0-2 record. The Black Knights opened the 2026 season on August 20 with a 1-1 draw against service academy rival Air Force, followed by a second consecutive draw on the road against No. 10 Akron on Monday. Friday night's contest against Columbia marks the third straight match away from West Point to start the season for the Black Knights.
Freshman Gunnar Guest scored Army's opening goal of the season in the 59th minute against Air Force off an assist from Jacob Nguyen. The Black Knights return key upperclassmen leadership across the pitch.
Friday will mark the 21st all-time meeting between Columbia and Army West Point. The Lions hold a 9-7-4 advantage in a series which dates back to 1959. The last time the two programs met was October 14, 2025, in West Point, which resulted in a 2-2 draw.
FOLLOW THE LIONS:
For the latest on Columbia men's soccer, be sure to follow the team on Twitter and Instagram (@CULionsMSOC), on Facebook (ColumbiaMensSoccer), or by visiting GoColumbiaLions.com.
Players Mentioned
Thursday, August 27
Tuesday, October 28
Tuesday, October 28
Saturday, October 25
