BRIGHTON, Mich. -- Calvin University has been selected as the preseason favorite in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association's (MIAA) 2026 Men’s Soccer Preseason Poll after collecting 48 points and six first-place votes. Hope College follows closely with 44 points and two first-place votes, while Albion College rounds out the top three with 35 points.
The MIAA announced the preseason poll following a vote of the league’s eight head coaches. The 2026 season features a strong group of returning All-MIAA and All-Region selections, including the reigning MIAA Most Valuable Player and several players who earned all-conference First Team recognition a year ago.
1. Calvin University – 48 points (6 first-place votes)
Calvin tied-for-second in the MIAA standings last season with a 5-1-1 conference record and a 17-4-1 overall mark. The Knights went on to capture the 2025 MIAA Men’s Soccer Tournament Presented by Collegiate Credit Union.
Senior midfielder Matt Torrell leads a talented group of returners after being voted the 2025 MIAA Most Valuable Player and earning First Team All-MIAA honors. Torrell also received First Team All-Region honors from the United Soccer Coaches and was named a United Soccer Coaches Division III Third Team All-American. Senior midfielder Hans Pruis also returns after earning First Team All-MIAA recognition last season. Junior defender Jake Ziolo enters his third season as a two-time All-MIAA honoree after earning Second Team honors in 2025, along with Second Team All-Region recognition. Sophomore forward Will Lanham also adds to the returning core after earning Second Team All-MIAA and Fourth Team All-Region honors last season.
Head coach Ryan Souders enters his 15th season at the helm of the Knights after being named the 2025 MIAA Men’s Soccer Coach of the Year.
2. Hope College – 44 points (2 first-place votes)
Hope captured the MIAA regular-season title last season with a 6-0-1 conference record and an 11-6-2 overall mark. The Flying Dutch claimed their first outright regular-season championship since 2006.
Hope brings back a deep group of All-MIAA First Team selections, led by junior forward Jackson Mindling, a two-time All-MIAA honoree. Senior midfielder Josh Weigel enters his final season as a three-time All-MIAA honoree, while sophomore defender Jack Lowman and junior midfielder Benjamin Smitley also return after earning First Team recognition in 2025. Senior defender Evan Morrison adds another experienced piece to the lineup after earning Second Team All-MIAA honors last season.
3. Albion College – 35 points
Albion tied-for-second in the MIAA last season with a 5-1-1 conference record and finished 12-3-2 overall.
Forward Robin Ruigendijk highlights the Britons’ returning group after being named the 2025 MIAA Freshman of the Year and earning First Team All-MIAA and Second Team All-Region honors. Junior midfielder Esteban Mercado is a two-time All-MIAA honoree after earning First Team recognition and First Team All-Region honors last season. Senior defender Lucas Anderson also returns following a First Team All-MIAA selection and Third Team All-Region honor. Albion brings back senior forward Xavier Yuille, junior midfielder Khalil Camara, junior defender Binck-Jan Bakker, and sophomore defender Joshua Jasinkiewicz after each earned Second Team All-MIAA recognition in 2025.
4. Adrian College – 29 points
Adrian finished fourth in the MIAA last season with a 3-3-1 conference record and a 6-13-1 overall mark.
Sophomore defender Dominic Kretschmer will headline the Adrian roster after earning Second Team All-MIAA honors last season. Junior goalkeeper Eli Sizemore also returns for the Bulldogs after recording 32 saves and a .681 save percentage in 2025. Junior midfielder Andy Ignatovich and junior forward Kyle Peterson each return after contributing three points during conference play last season.
5. Kalamazoo College – 26 points
Kalamazoo finished fifth last season with a 2-2-3 MIAA record and a 4-9-4 overall mark.
Senior midfielder Lucas Ruiz leads the returning group after earning Second Team All-MIAA honors in 2025. Senior forward Ben Battreall and sophomore defender Elijah Vue also return after each contributing four points during conference play last season.
T6. Alma College – 15 points
Alma finished eighth in the MIAA last season with a 0-6-1 conference record and a 6-10-2 overall mark.
Sophomore forward Gavyn Moore and senior forward Fletcher Van Howe are coming back as the Scots’ top point producers. Alma also brings back senior goalkeepers Landon Soule and Bradshaw Uhlmann. Uhlmann recorded 31 saves with a .795 save percentage last season, while Soule totaled 22 saves.
T6. Trine University – 15 points
Trine finished seventh in the MIAA last season with a 0-5-2 record and a 1-13-3 overall mark.
The Trine roster will be highlighted by senior forward Brayden Macy who is returning as the Thunder’s leading scorer from a season ago. Senior goalkeepers Dillon Lambert and Brandon Walker also return between the posts, with Walker leading the team with 17 saves last season.
8. The University of Olivet – 12 points
Olivet finished sixth in the MIAA last season with a 1-4-2 conference record and a 2-9-4 overall mark.
Senior goalkeeper Nicholas Van Port Fleet leads the Comets’ returning group after earning Second Team All-MIAA honors last season. Junior forward Tyler Kendrick and sophomore forward Marcel Jackson also return as top scoring options for Olivet.
Up Ahead
The 2026 MIAA men’s soccer regular season is slated to begin Wednesday, October 7, with Adrian hosting Calvin, Olivet hosting Trine, Alma hosting Kalamazoo, and Albion hosting Hope. The 2026 MIAA Men’s Soccer Tournament Presented by Collegiate Credit Union is scheduled for October 31 (first round), November 3 (semifinals), and November 7 (final).