AUSTIN, Texas – With a veteran core returning from one of the top teams in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference a season ago, the Concordia University Texas men's soccer team enters the 2026 campaign looking to take another step forward under third-year head coach Jordan Parron.

The Tornados are coming off a strong 2025 season in which they posted a 9-4-5 overall record and 6-1-4 mark in SCAC play, finishing third in the conference standings and earning a berth in the SCAC Tournament. CTX scored 26 goals while allowing just 18 across 18 matches and posted six shutouts on the year.

Concordia's success resulted in eight All-SCAC selections, highlighted by senior midfielder Jesse Garfias, who earned First Team All-SCAC honors.

With 25 players returning from last season's squad, Parron is excited to see how the experience gained from last year's postseason appearance translates into 2026.

"The one thing that I'm most excited about is obviously getting 25 returners back from the season that we just had," Parron said. "For me, just seeing the growth in them, seeing what motivates them and what gets them going to want to win a conference championship."

RETURNING CORE
Experience will be one of Concordia's biggest strengths entering the new campaign, with a large group of upperclassmen returning to the pitch.
Garfias headlines the group after finishing second on the team with 12 points, totaling four goals and four assists in 2025. Two of his four goals were game winners as he established himself as one of the top midfielders in the conference.

Entering his final collegiate season, Garfias sees last year's success as motivation while embracing his role as one of the team's veteran leaders.
"All that success is obviously a blessing, but now there's a new opportunity ahead of me going into my senior year," Garfias said. "I'm just trying to stay humble and play for my brothers. Without them, none of that success would even happen."

Senior goalkeeper Leonel Cuellar also returns after anchoring the CTX defense last season. Cuellar started 17 matches and registered 70 saves, a .824 save percentage and a 0.92 goals-against average. He recorded six shutouts and finished the campaign with an 8-3-5 record in goal.

The Tornados return additional experience throughout the lineup with seniors Steven Dolan, Julian McCord, Conner Rodgers, Thomas Saylae, Irvin Martinez, Nehemia Harper, Andres Munoz, Santiago Martinez, Luis Pineda and Mark Wilson among the veterans back for the 2026 campaign.

Sophomore forward Ivan Essis will look to build on a promising freshman season after scoring twice in 2025, with both goals proving to be game winners.

Junior Tyler Kenny also returns after providing four assists in 10 appearances last season.

With experience throughout the field and several players who logged significant minutes last season, the Tornados will look to their returning core to provide leadership as they pursue another postseason appearance.

NEW FACES
Concordia will also welcome a group of newcomers looking to make an immediate impact and add depth to an experienced roster.
The incoming class includes transfers like Enoch Morebise, along with midfielder/forward Xavier Blake, forward Aaron Hogner, defender/midfielder Ethan D'Elia, midfielder Xabian Ruiz, midfielder/forward Lorenzo Maule and Francois Mbaka.

Parron expects the newcomers to complement an experienced returning group, particularly in the attacking third, as CTX looks to become more dangerous offensively while maintaining the defensive identity that helped the Tornados succeed last season.

THE 2026 SLATE
Concordia will prepare for the regular season with a pair of preseason tests, beginning with Huston-Tillotson on Aug. 22 at Gardner-Boggs Field before facing Wayland Baptist on Aug. 27 at the Round Rock Multipurpose Complex.

The regular season officially gets underway with back-to-back home matches. CTX welcomes Mary Hardin-Baylor on Sept. 1 before hosting Hardin-Simmons on Sept. 3.

The Tornados then travel to Marshall for their first road contest against East Texas Baptist on Sept. 9 before returning home for Senior Night against McMurry on Sept. 12.

A challenging stretch follows with four consecutive road matches against Nelson University, Schreiner, Southwestern and Trinity.
The Southwestern and Trinity matchups will provide Concordia with a pair of notable non-conference tests. The Tornados battled Southwestern to a scoreless draw last season, with Cuellar making 10 saves to preserve the clean sheet.

The final stretch could carry significant postseason implications as Concordia looks to position itself for another SCAC Tournament appearance.
This season, the road to the conference championship once again will come through Round Rock. The 2026 SCAC Men's Soccer Tournament is scheduled for Nov. 6-8 at the Round Rock Multipurpose Complex, giving the Tornados an opportunity to compete for a conference championship close to home should they qualify.

With a veteran core, an incoming group looking to contribute and the opportunity to compete for a conference championship in its own backyard, Concordia enters the 2026 season looking to build on the foundation established a year ago.

To keep up to date with everything surrounding the CTX men's soccer program, follow us on social media (@ctxathletics) and visit athletics.concordia.edu.