Concord men’s soccer announces 2026 schedule

ATHENS, W.Va. – Concord University head men’s soccer coach Alex Smith has announced the program’s schedule for the 2026 season.

Winners of more than 80 percent of their games the last two seasons, the Mountain Lions will play a challenging 18-game slate in the fall. CU will have five non-conference games, all on the road, and 13 Mountain East Conference games—new this year is the MEC going to divisions for men’s soccer. Concord plays double round robin against the MEC South Division—Charleston, Salem, Shawnee State and West Virginia Wesleyan—and each team in the MEC North Division—Davis & Elkins, Frostburg State, Point Park, West Liberty and Wheeling—once.

The slate starts with four straight road games as the Mountain Lions face Virginia State August 27 to open the year. For a second time in as many years, Chowan is on the schedule as CU pays a visit to the Hawks August 30. Concord plays a second straight team from North Carolina when it opposes Catawba September 2. And the road trip finally wraps up September 6 at Charleston with the first MEC game of the year.

West Virginia Wesleyan serves as the first home game of the year September 9 followed by MEC newcomer Shawnee State entering Callaghan Stadium September 13. Back-to-back road games are next: Seton Hill (September 16) and Salem (September 20). Two of the final three games in September are at home with Point Park (September 23) and Frostburg State (September 30) visiting Athens. A trip to Wheeling is sandwiched in as well September 27.

Three tough road trips begin October with Davis & Elkins (October 4), West Liberty (October 7) and District of Columbia (October 14)—the final non-conference game—on the schedule. CU welcomes Salem October 18 before traveling to West Virginia Wesleyan October 21. Rival Charleston will be the final home game October 25. The season wraps up October 28 at Shawnee State.

SCHEDULE NOTES

-Despite an overhaul on the schedule, the only two first-time opponents for Concord are Shawnee State and Virginia State. Concord last played District Columbia in 2011—the only all-time meeting, Catawba in 2015 and Seton Hill in 2012.

-Even though CU has played Salem nine times from 2010-2025, this year’s two games with Salem will be the first meetings as conference foes since 2008 in the WVIAC.

-The Mountain Lions scored a season-best five goals in the opening game of the 2025 season in a 5-2 victory over Chowan. The game was played at Lees-McRae College.

-Concord had a single-season program best eight shutouts in 2025, including blanking both Point Park and West Virginia Wesleyan twice.