WASHINGTON - The American University men's soccer team begins its 2026 campaign at home on Thursday against Rutgers at 1 p.m., kicking off a non-conference slate that will see the Eagles take on three top 25 teams. The action begins with a matchup against the Scarlet Knights of the Big Ten at Reeves Field, and the Eagles will travel to Long Island to face #20 Hofstra on Sunday.
The match against Rutgers was originally scheduled to start at 4 p.m. The match has been moved up to 1 p.m. due to potential inclement weather.
Game Information
When: Thursday, Aug. 20 at 1.p.m. vs. Rutgers | Sunday, Aug. 23 at Hofstra at 6 p.m.
Where: Washington, D.C. (Reeves Field) | Hempstead, N.Y. (Captains Stadium)
How to watch: vs. Rutgers:
ESPN+ | at Hofstra:
Flo College
Talent: Marc Serber
Live Stats: vs. Rutgers
HERE, at Hofstra
HERE
Parking on Campus
- As of August 25, parking on campus is being actively monitored seven days a week, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Parking is available on a per-event basis.
- Event Parking: $10 per contest for games held after 5 p.m. on weekdays and all day on weekends (available through the PayByPhone app in any garage using code (211950).
- Hourly Parking: Standard hourly garage rates apply from 8 am-10 pm in the Katzen Arts Center and School of International Service garages.
- Find a detailed campus map here.
How to Get to Reeves Field
- The main entrance to Reeves Field, down the hill from Bender Arena, is now open in front of the Meltzer Center construction.
Series History
- This is AU's first first match against Rutgers since 2000, with the Scarlet Knights leading the all-time series 3-1. The Eagles last defeated them in 1997.
- American is 14-3-1 all-time against Hofstra, but most recently fell to the Pride 4-1 at home in 2024. Prior to that defeat, the Eagles had one the last 13 contests.
What to Know About American
- The Eagles enter the 2026 season as the Patriot League favorite in the conference preseason poll, coming off one of their most accomplished seasons of the last decade. They went 7-1-1 in PL play last year, winning the program's first regular season title since 2016, with six players named All-Patriot League.
- With a strong group of 21 returners on this year's roster, they'll be tasked with filling holes left by a significant 2025 graduating class. Troy Elgersma departed as the Patriot League Midfielder of the Year with seven goals last season, and Matthew Tibbetts was the Goalkeeper of the Year. Overall, four regular starters and the team's top two goal scorers played their final games in 2025.
- Senior defender Ian Webb-Johnson and junior midfielder Oliver Snowdon represent the 2026 squad on the PL Preseason All-League Team
- Webb-Johnson is a returning Second Team All-Patriot League selection, putting in a quality year of work while anchoring AU's back line. He started every match and led the Eagles' defense to the third-lowest goals allowed per game at 1.06.
- Snowdon has been one of American's most active and reliable midfielders over the last two seasons. Playing in the center of the pitch, he's logged over 2,000 minutes and tallied two assists. He was the only midfielder to start all 18 games last year.
- Sebastian Garces returns as an Eagle for his graduate season, adding a critical piece to AU's roster. Garces was an All-Patriot League Third Team selection last year, logging nine points on five assists and two goals in the best stretch of his career so far.
- Ten juniors round up American's largest and most game-experienced class. Snowdon and defender Kobe Keomany combined for just under 3,000 minutes last year, with Keomany leading the team at 1,471.
- Chris Sullivan is a pivotal piece in the midfield, proving to be a top distributor in 2025 with four assists. A confident player on the ball, he frequently moved the Eagles forward and connected passes both out wide and into the box to strikers.
- Evan Tubbs will take over duties between the posts, earning the starting job after developing under Tibbetts a year ago. He showed well in limited action his freshman season, making seven saves in two starts and earning a clean sheet win against UNCW.
- Heading into his eighth season at the helm, Zach Samol has turned AU into a perennial contender in the Patriot League. He's taken the Eagles to the postseason in six of his seven seasons, including a Patriot League Championship in 2020-21, and three total appearances in the PL final. Every member of his 2025 Patriot League Coaching Staff of the Year (assistant coaches Pat Mehlert, Zach Weidman, and Jerry Zouantcha) has returned in 2026.
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