KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – The Truman State University men's soccer team will lean on an experienced roster and a reinforced attack during the 2026 season under head coach Duke Cochran.

Nineteen of the 38 players on Truman's roster are juniors, seniors or graduate students. The Bulldogs also return the players responsible for 15 of their 18 goals and 37 of their 45 points last season.

Truman opens the season Thursday, Aug. 27, against St. Cloud State University at 7:30 p.m. inside Stokes Stadium. The match is part of Student and Community Appreciation Week.

Returning Production

Junior midfielder Jacob Panagos returns after leading Truman with seven goals, two assists and 16 points in 2025. He started all 15 matches in which he appeared and led the team with 28 shots and 16 shots on goal.

Panagos accounted for nearly 39 percent of Truman's goals and converted three of his four penalty-kick attempts.

Junior Tyler Bouckaert and senior Oliver Doyle each scored twice last season. Doyle put 10 of his 12 shots on goal, while Bouckaert finished with 18 total shots.

Senior Drake Thompson contributed one goal and one assist. Sophomores Henry Jenks and Mason Willier also return after scoring during their first seasons with the Bulldogs.

Willier scored the game-winning goal in Truman's 3-1 victory over Upper Iowa, while Tommy Edrington delivered the winner in a 3-2 road victory against St. Cloud State.

The Bulldogs bring back experience throughout the midfield with Panagos, Bouckaert, Thompson, Zachary Painter, Jack Johnson, Brady Lombardo, Merritt Gregory and Zoran Sabbert.

Senior Liam Snowball leads a returning defensive group that also includes Slayton Spencer, Braden Hannan, Frank Robinson and Scottie Alberson.

Sophomore Owen Robben returns in goal after starting 14 matches and appearing in 15 as a freshman. Robben recorded 62 saves and earned a shutout in Truman's 1-0 road victory at Quincy. Graduate student Stuart Whitmer gives the Bulldogs another experienced option in goal.

Truman finished 3-10-3 overall and 2-10-2 in GLVC play last season. The Bulldogs scored 18 goals while allowing 37, making defensive improvement and more consistent finishing the clearest areas that will determine the team's progress in 2026.

Schulte Joins Bulldog Attack

Senior forward Nolan Schulte arrives at Truman following three seasons at NCAA Division III Virginia Wesleyan University.

Schulte scored 15 goals across his three seasons with the Marlins. He started all 20 matches in 2024 and recorded seven goals, one assist and two game-winning goals on his way to First Team All-Old Dominion Athletic Conference honors.

His 2024 season included a hat trick during a 5-1 victory over Eastern Mennonite and a goal against nationally ranked Washington and Lee in the ODAC Tournament semifinals.

Schulte added three goals and one assist in 17 appearances during an injury-affected 2025 season. He joins Panagos as the most established collegiate scoring threats on the 2026 roster.

Truman also added several transfers with prior college experience. Defender Brady Blum arrives from East Central College, where he served as a team captain before missing the 2025 season with an injury. Jackson Goldberg and Ethan Mercurio join the Bulldogs from GLVC member Rockhurst, while midfielder Russell Woods previously played at Dallas Baptist.

The freshman class adds several accomplished high school scorers.

Roman Scognamillo recorded 21 goals and 14 assists during his senior season at Kapaun Mt. Carmel Catholic High School. He earned First Team All-State, All-Metro and All-City honors.

Jamison Sprunt finished his 2025 season at Whitfield with 16 goals and 12 assists, while Cody Bland completed his career at Staley with 25 goals and earned honorable mention All-State recognition.

Chris Fannin scored 30 goals while playing primarily as a defensive or central midfielder at North Kansas City. Sebastian Wimmer helped Lane Tech College Prep finish as the Illinois state runner-up in 2024 and reach the state semifinals again in 2025.

Leo Wolf, Luther Harrington and other young players will compete for roles within a roster that blends returning experience with new depth.

Challenging Start to GLVC Play

After opening against St. Cloud State, Truman hosts Hannibal-LaGrange University on Sept. 1 at Bulldog Soccer Park.

The Bulldogs begin conference play Sept. 5 against Drury. Four of Truman's first five GLVC opponents were picked among the top six teams in the conference preseason poll.

That stretch includes road matches at second-place Rockhurst and Illinois Springfield, along with home contests against third-place Maryville and preseason favorite Lincoln.

Truman will play seven GLVC matches at home and seven on the road. The Bulldogs host Southwest Baptist, Missouri S&T and Lewis before closing their home schedule against Quincy on Oct. 21 at Stokes Stadium.

Senior Day is scheduled for Oct. 17 against Lewis.

The regular season concludes Oct. 24 at Indianapolis. The GLVC Tournament quarterfinals are scheduled for Oct. 31.

Bulldogs Picked 12th in GLVC Preseason Poll

Truman was selected 12th in the 2026 GLVC preseason coaches' poll with 45 points, two behind Southwest Baptist and two ahead of Illinois Springfield.

Lincoln received six first-place votes and 192 points to lead a closely contested poll. Rockhurst also received six first-place votes and was selected second with 180 points. Defending GLVC champion Maryville received two first-place votes and was picked third.

Five teams received at least one first-place vote.
 

2026 GLVC Men's Soccer Preseason Poll

2026 Truman Men's Soccer Schedule

*GLVC match

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