WAUKESHA, Wis. - The names may be different, but the expectations remain the same. Every year, the Carroll University men's soccer program faces the reality that comes with sustained success. Veteran leaders graduate, key contributors move on, and opportunities emerge for the players waiting behind them. This fall is no different.

After graduating several key contributors and multiple-time All-CCIW performers, the Pioneers enter the 2026 season with one of their youngest rosters in recent memory. Nearly half of the roster is new to the program, creating opportunities throughout the lineup while placing a new group of players in positions of responsibility. For many programs, that type of turnover can create uncertainty. Inside Carroll's locker room, it has created opportunity.

For head coach Andy Kohel and his staff, the focus has never been on replacing the players who departed. Instead, the emphasis has been on preparing the next group to carry forward the standard that has defined the program in recent years.
"Our mentality doesn't change," Kohel said.

While certain tactical adjustments will naturally come with a younger roster, the core identity of Carroll men's soccer remains rooted in the same principles that have guided the program for years. Defend relentlessly. Compete for every ball. Prioritize the team above the individual. Embrace difficult challenges rather than avoid them.

Those values become even more important when nearly half of the roster is learning the culture for the first time. Recognizing that reality, the coaching staff placed a significant emphasis on team development long before preseason camp began. In May, the Pioneers traveled to Spain for a two-week international experience that allowed 19 players to immerse themselves in one of the world's richest soccer cultures while building relationships away from the field.

The trip provided a unique opportunity to experience life through different perspectives, particularly for players visiting the home country of teammates from Spain. While the soccer experiences were valuable, the greatest benefit may have been the relationships formed over those two weeks. For a team that would rely heavily on trust, communication, and collective growth throughout the season, the experience helped accelerate a bonding process that often takes months to develop.

That foundation will be important as the Pioneers navigate the challenges that come with integrating 19 newcomers into the program. While talent is certainly a part of the equation, Kohel believes maintaining the culture falls largely on the shoulders of returning players who understand what Carroll soccer is supposed to look like every day.

Leadership, in his eyes, extends well beyond coaches and captains. It comes from the veterans who reinforce expectations during training, the players who lead through their actions, and the teammates who help newcomers understand the standards of the program. Still, a pair of captains have emerged as clear examples for the rest of the roster.

Will Harris has earned the respect of teammates through his consistency and steady presence within the program. Alongside him is Jorge Gonzalez, a Division II transfer from Felician University whose first season at Carroll was cut short after an early injury sidelined him for most of the year. Although Gonzalez spent much of the season away from competition, his approach never changed. Coaches consistently point to the way he carried himself in the classroom, around the community, and throughout his rehabilitation as an example of the values they want reflected throughout the program. Now healthy, Gonzalez is expected to play a major role both as a leader and as a player.

His return is part of a larger story unfolding throughout the roster. Several players who gained valuable experience against one of the nation's toughest schedules last season now find themselves being asked to contribute in bigger ways. Some are stepping into leadership roles. Others are being counted on to produce more consistently. Collectively, they form the bridge between the established veterans who have moved on and the newcomers looking to make an immediate impact.
Few players embody that growth opportunity more than Iskander Sharipov.

After earning Second Team All-CCIW honors and leading the Pioneers in goals last season, Sharipov enters 2026 as one of the conference's most dynamic attacking threats. The coaching staff believes his next step involves expanding his influence beyond goal scoring by creating more opportunities for teammates and continuing to evolve as a leader within the group.

The Pioneers are also excited about the addition of goalkeeper Angel Escamilla, who arrives after spending his freshman year at DePaul focusing on track and field. After electing to return his focus to soccer, Escamilla brings both talent and a fresh perspective to a position that will play an important role in Carroll's success.

While those players will undoubtedly be key contributors, the reality is that this season cannot be carried by a handful of individuals.

With significant turnover throughout the roster, opportunities exist across virtually every position on the field. Several newcomers are expected to compete for meaningful minutes immediately, creating one of the most competitive preseason environments Kohel has coached. The challenge for those players will not simply be earning opportunities, but learning how to handle the inevitable adversity that comes with a long collegiate season.That lesson becomes especially important considering the schedule waiting ahead.

Few teams in the region will face a more demanding nonconference slate. Carroll opens the season against Ohio Northern and UW-Stevens Point before facing nationally respected programs such as St. Olaf, Loras, Colorado College, and UChicago. The Pioneers will also have the opportunity to test themselves against Division I Marquette, providing another valuable benchmark against elite competition. Rather than viewing that schedule as daunting, however, the coaching staff sees it as essential.

The Pioneers took a similar approach a season ago, and Kohel believes those experiences helped prepare his team for conference play. The philosophy remains unchanged entering 2026. Challenging opponents expose weaknesses, accelerate growth, and build the resilience required to navigate the CCIW schedule. That preparation matters because the ultimate goal remains the same as it has been in previous years: earn a place in the CCIW Tournament.

In a conference where every match presents a different challenge, success is determined by consistency as much as talent. The physical demands of the season require depth. The tactical diversity across the league requires adaptability. Most importantly, the conference demands a mentality that remains steady regardless of results. That mindset also shapes how Kohel defines successful soccer.

While the Pioneers possess talented attacking players, he believes winning begins on the defensive side of the ball. Defensive structure, work rate, pressing, winning aerial battles, and competing in individual duels remain staples of the program. The coaching staff would like to see Carroll reduce the number of goals conceded this season, but their focus extends beyond statistics. The goal is to create a team willing to embrace the difficult, often unnoticed work that drives success. When players commit to those responsibilities, the attacking opportunities tend to follow naturally.

More than anything, Kohel wants his team to be remembered for the way it competes. A successful performance is not solely measured by goals scored or matches won. It is reflected in players who leave the field exhausted after giving everything they have for one another, players willing to sacrifice individual recognition for the collective success of the team. If Carroll reaches its full potential by November, it will likely look exactly like that.

With so many new faces and players stepping into unfamiliar roles, the Pioneers' success will depend on patience, selflessness, and a willingness to grow together throughout the season. Some players may be asked to contribute differently than they expected. Others may emerge into bigger roles than anyone anticipated. The teams that embrace those challenges are often the ones still playing meaningful soccer deep into the fall.

The roster may be younger, and the lineup may feature several unfamiliar names, but the hunger throughout the program remains unchanged. In fact, that hunger may become this team's defining characteristic. Many of the players expected to make an impact this season are finally receiving opportunities they have spent years working toward. They may not yet have the accolades or recognition of the players who came before them, but they carry the same desire to compete, the same willingness to work, and the same goal of helping Carroll remain among the top programs in the conference.

By season's end, the Pioneers hope opponents see exactly that: not a young team replacing the past, but a hungry team building its own future while carrying forward the standard that has defined Carroll men's soccer for years. Many of the players expected to make an impact this season are finally receiving opportunities they have spent years working toward. They may not carry the same recognition as the players who came before them, but they are eager to earn it. Carroll hopes opponents recognize exactly that: a team willing to compete for every ball, embrace every challenge, and uphold the standard that has defined the program for years. If that happens, the next chapter of Carroll men's soccer could arrive sooner than many expect.