SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – The Skidmore College men's soccer team will officially open the 2026 campaign by hosting Buffalo State at Wachenheim Field tomorrow afternoon in a 1 p.m. clash.

Coming off a historic regular season, the Thoroughbreds look to continue the program's steady rise under head coach Brad Campion by taking on a tougher non-conference schedule before facing off in an always competitive Liberty League.
 
A REWIND OF 2025
Skidmore clinched the program's first-ever top-two seeded finish following a stellar regular season that saw a 10-3-3 record alongside a stellar 6-2-1 mark in league play. The program secured notable conference wins over No. 19 Ithaca and St. Lawrence. The Thoroughbreds ultimately concluded the season at home in the Liberty League Semifinals against Vassar.

By the numbers, Skidmore posted eight total shutouts on defense, while also making a jump offensively by increasing the scoring total to 26 goals, a rise from the 15 scored in 2024.  
 
THE SCHEDULE AHEAD
Taking on a more competitive non-conference schedule, the Thoroughbreds will face a slew of teams that finished among the top 75 in last year's NPI rankings, beginning with tomorrow's season opener against Buffalo State (42^nd in NPI). The slate features a challenging four-game stretch leading into Liberty League action, with Skidmore hosting Rochester (47th) on Sept. 13, traveling to Plattsburgh State (73rd) on Sept. 16, and returning home to face No. 18 Brandeis (20th) on Sept. 19 and SUNY Oneonta (46th) on Sept. 22.

Notable league games include the annual Stable Game against Union on Sept. 29, as well as Senior Day taking place against Ithaca on Oct. 3. The Thoroughbreds will also host reigning champion Hobart on Oct. 10, and will look to avenge last year's semifinals loss by hosting Vassar on Oct. 24.

The First Round of the Liberty League Tournament is slated for Tuesday, Nov. 3, with the semifinals and championship to follow that same weekend on Friday, Nov. 6 and Sunday, Nov, 8 respectively.
 
KEY RETURNERS
Skidmore returns a strong core headlined by senior Collin Goodhines, who scored five goals with two assists in 2025 to earn USC Second-Team All-Region honors as well as First-Team All-Liberty League nods. Returning for a fifth year, senior Connor Mansfield comes off an All-Liberty League Third-Team season that saw him score three goals. Sophomore Quinn McInerney leads the way on the defensive end coming off a stellar freshman season that saw him start in all 16 games appeared in and earning Second-Team All-Liberty League honors.
 
INCOMING CLASS
The Thoroughbreds welcome 12 newcomers to the program for 2026, details on the class can be found here.
 
PROGRAM HISTORY
Skidmore has appeared in the Liberty League title game five times in the past 20 seasons, most recently in 2022. The program has had two United Soccer Coaches All-Americans and one CSC Academic All-American®.
 
Head coach Brad Campion enters his third season at the helm of the Thoroughbreds boasting a 16-8-10 (.618) record and consecutive postseason berths. His overall head coaching record is 28-15-12 (.592).
 
FROM HEAD COACH BRAD CAMPION
"We are excited about the challenge ahead of us in 2026 and believe our non-conference schedule will provide an opportunity to test ourselves against some of the best teams in the region. We return a strong core from last season, while welcoming 12 incoming student-athletes who bring tremendous talent, energy, and ambition to our group.

"Our goal will be to integrate them into the strong program culture we have built and continue to raise the standard of what Skidmore Men's Soccer can be. We also expect the Liberty League to continue its rise on the national stage, with greater depth, competition, and consistency across the conference. Every game will demand our best, and we are excited to embrace that challenge while continuing to push this program forward."