Santa Clara men's soccer opens its 2026 season against Cleveland State on Thursday at 1 p.m. PT in Stevens Stadium. Under the leadership of head coach Cam Rast, now in his 25th season, the team features 20 returning players from a squad that finished with a 6-5-7 record last year. Senior midfielder Will Wiersdorf and senior goalkeeper Jackson Ozburn lead the 28-player roster, with Wiersdorf starting as team captain for the third consecutive year. The Broncos retained 78.3% of their goal scoring from last season, with several players garnering All-WCC honors. This season鈥檚 schedule includes 16 matches, split evenly between conference and nonconference play.

By the Numbers
  • The Broncos return 18 of 23 goals from last season, accounting for 78.3% of scoring.
  • Jackson Ozburn played 17 games last season, recording a 1.08 goals-against-average and seven shutouts.
State of Play
  • The West Coast Conference has reduced its match schedule to eight conference games after last season's nine.
  • The conference will introduce a tournament for the top four teams, with semifinals set for Nov. 11 and the final on Nov. 14.
What's Next

As the season unfolds, the Broncos aim to leverage their strong returning roster and adapt to the WCC's new tournament format to secure a postseason berth. Key matchups are expected to test their competitiveness within the league.

Bottom Line

Santa Clara men's soccer, with a solid mix of experienced returners and a clear tournament pathway, is poised for a promising season as they work towards both conference and NCAA tournament goals.