Michigan
LMU
U-M to Welcome LMU for Season Opener, International Soccer Night
8/18/2026 12:15:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Promotions
Thursday (Aug. 20)
• International Soccer Night
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan men's soccer team will open its 27th season on Thursday (Aug. 20), hosting Loyola Marymount at 6 p.m. at U-M Soccer Stadium as part of International Soccer Night. The match will be streamed live on B1G+.
Notes
• Michigan returns 19 letterwinners from its 2025 squad, led by seniors Will Baker and Joao Paulo Ramos, who enter their fourth seasons with the program.
• The Wolverines welcome 11 newcomers to the roster, including seven freshmen and four transfers. Michigan's freshman class ranks No. 4 nationally in TopDrawerSoccer's 2026 recruiting class rankings.
• Head coach Chaka Daley enters his 15th season at the helm of the Wolverines just seven victories shy of becoming the winningest head coach in program history.
• U-M welcomed Kevin Anderson to the staff as associate head coach during the offseason. Anderson comes to Ann Arbor after serving as head coach at Southern Connecticut State and previously leading the program at Columbia.
• Baker, Grayson Elmquist and Nico Pendleton were named Big Ten Players to Watch on Tuesday (Aug. 18). Baker led all Michigan outfield players in minutes played in 2025, while Elmquist paced the Wolverines in scoring. Pendleton arrives in Ann Arbor after three seasons at Marquette and is the second U-M transfer in as many seasons to earn preseason Players to Watch recognition.
• Junior Alen Bean is set to make his debut in net for the Maize and Blue. Bean has been with the program for three seasons.
• Michigan was picked to finish fifth in the Big Ten preseason coaches poll. The Wolverines placed third in the 2025 regular-season standings and advanced to the Big Ten Tournament final for the second consecutive season.
• Michigan and LMU will meet for the third time in program history and for the first time since the 2023 season opener. The Wolverines hold a 1-0-1 advantage in the all-time series.
