DC Men’s Soccer sets schedule for 2026 campaign

DEFIANCE, Ohio – The Defiance College men's soccer program announced its 2026 schedule in anticipation of the upcoming fall season. 

This year's slate will consist of 20 total dates with 18 regular-season games and two exhibition games. After a preseason exhibition at Owens Community College on Aug. 8, the Yellow Jackets will kick off the campaign at Indiana East on Aug. 14. The program's home opener will feature the rival Bluffton Beavers for a Sunday matinee on Aug. 16, leading into a stretch of four straight road contests. Following another home non-conference clash with Manchester, DC will travel to Purdue-Fort Wayne for an exhibition against the Division I Mastodons on Sept. 9.

Competition within the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference begins for DC at Rochester Christian on Sept. 19. Defiance will then host 5 of its next 7 matches at home before closing the season with a pair of road contests at Indiana Tech and Lawrence Tech.

2026 Defiance Men's Soccer Schedule
Aug. 8 at Owens CC (Exhibition), 1 p.m.
Aug. 14 at Indiana East, 4 p.m.
Aug. 16 vs. Bluffton, 4 p.m.
Aug. 20 at Taylor, 7 p.m.
Aug. 22 at Ohio Christian, 4 p.m.
Aug. 26 at Indiana Northwest, 7 p.m.
Aug. 28 at Kentucky Christian, 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 1 vs. Manchester, 5 p.m.
Sept. 9 at Purdue-Fort Wayne (Exhibition), 7 p.m.
Sept. 11 vs. Alice Lloyd, 3:30 p.m.
Sept. 19 at Rochester Christian, 4 p.m.*
Sept. 23 vs. Cleary, 3:30 p.m.*
Sept. 26 vs. Michigan-Dearborn, 3:30 p.m.*
Sept. 30 vs. Great Lakes Christian, 3:30 p.m.
Oct. 3 at Aquinas, 6 p.m.*
Oct. 10 vs. Cornerstone, 3:30 p.m.*
Oct. 14 at Northwestern Ohio, 3:30 p.m.*
Oct. 17 vs. Madonna, 3:30 p.m.*
Oct. 21 at Indiana Tech, 4 p.m.*
Oct. 24 at Lawrence Tech, 7 p.m.*
*Denotes WHAC game

Quoting Head Coach Htut Zar
"With a record-breaking recruiting class, both domestically and internationally, we have raised the bar for Defiance College Men's Soccer. Talent alone is not our destination; it is merely our starting point. Our mission is to continue elevating our standards, competing relentlessly every day, and achieving excellence in the classroom with the same commitment and discipline we bring to the field. The challenge before us is clear: be better than yesterday, hold one another accountable, and build a culture where competitiveness, academic achievement, and team success go hand in hand. As we move forward, we are committed to opening new doors through innovative thinking, bold action, and unwavering belief in our vision"

-JACKETS-