SPOKANE, Wash. – The Whitworth men's soccer program sets its sights on the 2026 season with a wave of new faces looking to make their mark. There is much to prove for the Bucs after significant roster turnover from a season ago.  

For the second consecutive season, 13 players have departed. The arrival of 11 newcomers, all freshmen, mark a young team looking to break through. Of the 13 players no longer on the roster, eight were top ten on the team in minutes played. It remains to be seen whether the new-look Bucs have the pieces to compete for a conference championship.

While the youth of the team can bring uncertainty, it also can create a sense of excitement in the potential for this team to develop and maintain a high level of play for years to come.  

Many of these first-year players will certainly get valuable playing time. It will be up to fourth year head coach Kevin Moon, who is 29-16-12 during his tenure, to figure who will be difference makers. Similar to a season ago, the team's ability to mesh impact newcomers with returners in new leadership roles may determine what they can accomplish.

The Pirates finished fourth in the Northwest Conference standings in 2025 with a 7-4-5 record (7-5-5 overall). Offensively, Whitworth ranked fifth in the NWC with 1.412 goals scored per game. Defense was where the group found its strength, giving up just 1.24 goals per game (second in the NWC) with a conference-high seven shutouts.

In the attacking third, replacing 22 points (9 goals, 4 assists) from graduate and three-time All-NWC player Dominic Gusman will be a significant challenge. Returners Lucas Diaz (three goals), Lucas Joehnk (two goals) and Connor Bly (two goals) are poised to fill that need with impactful seasons.

Hunter Lisowski and Jack Eschliman also return at forward. Freshmen Lincoln Crockett and Boden Thomson will join the group up front.

Christian Waarvick, Diaz, Joehnk, Ralph Borromeo, and Ryland Crane headline the returning group in the midfield. Waarvick played 1,282 minutes last season, second on the team. Sebastian Alzarez returns and Liam Bia will also push for time. Five newcomers join the packed midfield group, each looking to make their mark.

The task of replacing the defensive anchors of Johnny Finnegan and Reeves Oakman will likely be taken up by returning sophomores Ethan Bell and Jaxsen Teeter. Bell was third on the team in minutes played (1,276) with 14 starts and Teeter made six starts and 14 appearances last season.

RC Wells, Christoff Zimmerman, Lucas Waarvick, Greyson Wheeler, and Jackson Hammond also return in the defensive third. Incoming defenders include Aiden Iida, Samuel Kawakami, Jaxon Fantozzi, and Bowman Seitz.

Dax Flanders, Henrik Dahlgren and Oliver Hart will compete to replace senior Aiden Chase at goalkeeper. Flanders is the only one of the group that has seen game action, making five starts with a .810 save percentage last season.

Having completed a pair of exhibition matches against Azusa Pacific and Spokane Colleges, the Pirate men have had a chance to get their feet under them. The season officially kicks off in Colorado for a pair of matches at Colorado College on Friday, September 4 and Austin College on Sunday, September 6.

The first home weekend at Whitworth Soccer Field will include a match against Mary Hardin-Baylor on Friday, September 11 and UC Santa Cruz on September 13. Northwest Conference action will begin on September 19-20 versus Lewis & Clark and Linfield.