University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Syracuse
No. 24 UConn Kicks Off 2026 Season Against Syracuse
8/19/2026 11:58:00 AM | Men's Soccer
UConn Links: 2026 Schedule | 2026 Roster
Syracuse Links: 2026 Schedule | 2026 Roster
STORRS, Conn. – No. 24 UConn men's soccer is set to open the 2026 season on Thursday, August 20 as the Huskies will welcome the Syracuse Orange to Ray Reid Field at Joseph J. Morrone Stadium. Kickoff is set for 5:00pm and will be streamed on UConn+.
UConn is coming off a strong campaign in 2025, turning in a 12-5-4 overall record, the Huskies highest win total since 2018. Head coach Chris Gbandi enters his fifth season at the helm of his alma mater. Under Gbandi's leadership, UConn has steadily climbed back to national prominence, earning the program's first at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament in seven years, while coaching 16 student-athletes to All-BIG EAST honors, and producing nine MLS SuperDraft picks.
UConn returns four key starters from last year's squad in 2026, goalkeeper Kyle Durham (Brooklyn, N.Y.), defenders, Alex Tupay (Phoenix, Ariz.), and Johan Hamel (Angers, France), along with midfielder, Max Gummesson (Gothenburg, Sweden). Durham was named the 2026 Preseason BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year and was voted to the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team.
A Look at Syracuse
The Syracuse Orange enter the 2026 season after going 9-8-3 a season ago. Under 17th year head coach Ian McIntyre, the Orange earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament in 2025, their third appearance in the tournament in the last four seasons. Syracuse was voted to finish 10th in the ACC Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Orange return 12 players from their 2025 roster to this year's squad, including sophomore midfielder Kelvin Da Costa, who was selected to the Preseason All-ACC Team.
Series History:
These two programs last met in the 2025 season opener, as the Huskies defeated Syracuse, 1-0 at the SU Soccer Stadium. The victory snapped a four-game losing streak to the Orange, dating back to the 2013 season. UConn is 13-3-1 against Syracuse at home and leads the all-time series, 19-9-3.
Know Before You Go
Parking: $10 cash only parking in I-Lot (Lots surrounding Toscano Family Ice Forum).
Access: Gates open at 4:00pm.
