MSOC | Gaels Open Two-Game Homestand Starting with Marist on Friday

Friday, September 4

Moraga, CA

5:00 PM

Saint Mary's College of California

Marist

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Photo by: Jackson Thornborrow / SMC Athletics

MSOC | Gaels Open Two-Game Homestand Starting with Marist on Friday

9/2/2026 2:54:00 PM | Men's Soccer

MORAGA, Calif. - The Saint Mary's men's soccer team will return to Saint Mary's Stadium on Friday, September 4 for the start of a two-game homestand. The Gaels will kick things off with a matchup against MAAC member Marist before ending Labor Day Weekend against Air Force for their first matchup with the Falcons since 2017.

GAME INFORMATION AND COVERAGE

MSOC | Saint Mary's vs. Marist | Saint Mary's Stadium
Moraga, Calif. | Sept. 4 | 5 p.m.
Live Stats | ESPN+ | Tickets

MSOC | Saint Mary's vs. Air Force | Saint Mary's Stadium
Moraga, Calif. | Sept. 7 | 1 p.m.
Live Stats | ESPN+ | Tickets

GAELS OUTLOOK

Gaels Secure First Win of 2026; 2-1 Victory over Sacramento State…

Saint Mary's returned from its midwest road trip and was able to defend home field, knocking off Sacramento State 2-1 in its home opener for the first win of the 2026 season. First-year Gael Andre Insalaco got the scoring started with his first goal as a Gael, scoring a cheeky chip from a tight angle in the 28th minute to put the Gaels up one. Surafel Abebe and Talan Rochelle got credit for the assists on the scoring play, their first career points as Gaels.

Less than ten minutes later, Saint Mary's doubled its lead thanks to an own goal in the 36th minute. True freshman Brett Seemuller got down the left side and fired a cross into the box that found the feet of second-year forward Henry Beatty. Beatty was geared up for a shot attempt but had the ball poked through his legs from behind that went on to sneak past the keeper for the Gaels' second goal of the match. The Hornets netted a goal in the 89th minute to apply some late pressure, but Saint Mary's held strong, including a six-save performance from Sam Bentley in goal to seal the 2-1 victory.

Luke Schaefer Records First Points as a Gael…

Saint Mary's ended the second week of the college soccer season with a drama-filled 4-2 defeat to San Jose State but saw a standout performance from graduate transfer Luke Schaefer. Schaefer finished the match with 67 minutes of action in his fourth start of the season and led the team with four shot attempts that yielded a goal and an assist for his first points as a Gael.

Schaefer assisted the Gaels' first goal of the afternoon that helped tie the game at one in the seventh minute. He then provided a much needed answer with his first goal of the season in the 34th minute to cut the deficit to one just before the half. Schaefer leads the team with three points and ten shot attempts on the season through his first four games as a Gael.

Bentley Finishes Two-Game Week with 11 Saves…

Sam Bentley recorded a career high 54 saves and was named All-WCC Honorable Mention in 2025 and is off to another career start with 15 saves through his first four games here in 2026. The third-year Gael finished week two of the season with a combined 11 saves, six against Sacramento State on Thursday and five against San Jose State on Sunday. The Gaels jumped out to a two-goal lead against the Hornets, but Bentley made several crucial saves to finish the match with a season high six while facing 15 shots, helping seal a 2-1 victory. Despite a two-goal defeat to end the week against the Spartans, Bentley made five saves in the match for his second consecutive game with five or more saves.

Series History…

Saint Mary's and Marist will meet for just the second time in program history and the first since a 2-0 home victory over the Red Foxes in 2018. Air Force will come to Moraga for the first time since 2016 in what will be their eighth all-time meeting. Saint Mary's holds an all-time record of 3-4 with their last win over the Falcons coming in 2013.

ABOUT THE RED FOXES (0-1-2, Metro)

The Marist Red Foxes enter week three of the college soccer season still winless with a record of 0-1-2. Draws included a 2-2 affair in the season opener with Stony Brook and then a scoreless draw with Air Force back on August 23. The Red Foxes will make their way out to California for the third week of action with matchups against Saint Mary's on Friday and then San Francisco on Monday night.

Marist was picked to finish tied for fifth in the Metro Preseason Poll and had a pair of players named to the preseason team. Adriano Iannello was a true freshman in 2025 and led the team with five assists over his 16 games played. The Toronto native also scored three goals to finish with eleven points for a Marist side that won eight matches a season ago. Joining Iannello on the preseason team was fellow standout Gijs Verheul who finished second on the team with six goals last season. The then sophomore scored a brace for his first two goals of the season in a 4-2 win over Fordham as the duo will lead the offensive attack for the Red Foxes here in 2026.

Matt Viggiano enters his 20th season with the Red Foxes and has a career record of 132-151-43. Viggiano is responsible for the program's lone MAAC Tournament Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance with both coming in 2021.

ABOUT THE FALCONS (0-1-2, Mountain West)

Air Force also enters week three of the college soccer season winless with a 0-1-2 record. The Falcons tied Army and Marist before falling to UC San Diego 1-0 on August 30. The Falcons will come out to California to take on San Francisco on Friday before heading to Moraga on Monday to end their West Coast road trip. Air Force was picked to finish fifth out of six teams in the Mountain West Preseason Poll after winning just one match in 2025.

Tucker Kern, Quinn Muderlak and Logan Zaa highlighted the Mountain West Preseason Watchlist as Kern and Muderlak each had a goal apiece during the 2025 campaign. Zaa sat out the 2025 season due to injury but has been a three-year member with the program dating back to 2023. Greg Dalby enters his second season as head coach after coming over from former WCC program Oregon State. Dalby spent two seasons as the head coach for the Beavers where he compiled a record of 21-11-8 along with two NCAA Tournament appearances.

Both matches can be streamed live on ESPN+ and tickets can be bought online at smcgaels.com/tickets.

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