CASE SUMMARY
The King's College men's soccer team enters the 2026 season with a clear objective: continue building on the progress made over the past year and return to the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom Tournament.
 
After navigating a season filled with challenges, the Monarchs return an experienced roster that has grown through adversity and developed a stronger understanding of what it takes to compete at a high level. Head coach Brandon Raynor believes the team's focus on improvement and accountability has helped lay the foundation for the season ahead.
"We are focusing on us, continuing to do what we were good at, improving in certain areas, and ultimately getting the program back into the conference tournament," Raynor said.
 
 
INITIAL ASSESSMENT
The Monarchs were selected eighth in the 2026 MAC Freedom Men's Soccer Preseason Poll, which was voted on by the conference's head coaches.
 
Defending MAC Freedom Champion Stevens topped the poll with 64 points and eight first-place votes, followed by Lebanon Valley (53), Misericordia (51), Arcadia (44), DeSales (27), FDU-Florham (27), Delaware Valley (26), King's (18), and Marywood (14).
 
As the season approaches, the Monarchs are focused on establishing their identity and building on the experience gained through last year's challenges while pursuing a return to postseason play.
 
 
PROGRAM OUTLOOK
King's returns a core of experienced contributors throughout the lineup, giving the coaching staff confidence heading into the fall.
 
Ben Van Valkenburg returns after serving as the Monarchs' starting goalkeeper for the past two seasons, providing a steady presence between the posts. In the midfield, Jackson Nuttall has emerged as one of the team's key players and will continue growing into a leadership role as a vice captain.
 
Cam Jones will also be relied upon for leadership, as the versatile veteran continues to develop into the captain the team needs both on and off the field.
 
The Monarchs expect to receive a boost from the return of defender Evan Corcoran, whose versatility and leadership should strengthen the back line after injury limited him to just three appearances last season.
 
Offensively, Santiago Javadpour and Costa Villano will be counted on to help drive the attack. Javadpour brings a combination of technical ability and power, while Villano grew into an influential role during his first season with the program and is expected to take another step forward this fall.
 
 
MONARCH NOTES
According to Raynor, one of the biggest strengths of the 2026 squad is the balance that has developed throughout the roster.
"We are finally growing into a balanced team through class years," Raynor said.
 
That growth has also extended beyond the field. Raynor pointed to the team's togetherness and accountability as areas that have improved significantly throughout the offseason.
 
As the Monarchs continue to mature as a group, those qualities have become central to the culture being built within the program.
 
 
THE ROAD AHEAD
The Monarchs have several matches circled on their calendar entering the 2026 campaign.
"There are quite a few matchups circled on our calendar based on how some games went last season as well as who we lost some recruiting battles to," Raynor said. "Our guys know those games and we will leave it at that."
 
That competitive edge should provide added motivation as King's navigates its conference schedule and works toward returning to the MAC Freedom Tournament.
 
 
MISSION STATEMENT
Raynor believes last season's adversity helped prepare this group for the challenges ahead.
"We are a new team, a lot of experience, and we grew from a lot of hardships last year," Raynor said. "Because of that, we know the grind, focus and togetherness it'll take to get us to where we want to be."
 
Armed with an experienced core, emerging leaders, and a stronger sense of accountability, the Monarchs enter 2026 determined to take the next step as a program and compete for a place in the conference postseason.