UCLA men’s soccer is set to kick off its 2026 season, with exhibition play starting Friday and the official regular season beginning Aug. 20. The reigning Big Ten Tournament champions return to defend their crown with a lineup consisting of incoming freshmen, transfers and returners. Daily Bruin Sports assistant editor Sinclair Richman previews the Bruins’ 2026 roster ahead of the start of the season.

2025 record: 8-6-5, 5-3-2 Big Ten

Coach: Ryan Jorden

The Bruins found their scoring stride at the end of last season.

In the last six games the squad played, it nearly doubled the amount of goals scored in the first 13 games, scoring 21 compared to just 11.

But they will have to find the groove again, this time without the help of two of the three leading goalscorers in 2025.

Forward Sergi Solans Ormo, the squad’s leading scorer with 16 goals and six assists throughout the season, began playing for Real Salt Lake in the MLS after the Bruins’ season concluded. Midfielder Konstantinos Georgallides, who tallied five goals and three assists across 13 games, is playing in the USL League One.

The Westwood squad will have to find new ways to create and capitalize on goal scoring opportunities, but will also have to adjust on the defensive side of the field.

Three different goalkeepers started for the Bruins last season, with Kevin Box, who started the last 10 games of the season, having exhausted his last year of eligibility in 2025. Box recorded six shutouts and 30 saves throughout the season – both team-high marks.

These departures mean that UCLA’s lineup will look noticeably different than it did last season, and the adjustments will be put to the test beginning Friday.

The returners

Consistency is key, and UCLA’s 12 returners are looking to provide that.

With Solans Ormo and Georgallides no longer playing for UCLA, seniors midfielder Philip Naef and forward Oliver Roche are likely to spearhead the squad’s attack.

Naef led the squad in assists last season with 11, despite only starting 11 games. He boasted four assists in a 5-2 win over Rutgers, becoming the first player in program history to record at least four assists in a single game twice over his collegiate career. Naef’s ability to create scoring opportunities for his teammates will prove to be crucial in the upcoming season.

Scoring-wise, Roche will likely have to step up. He sat tied for second on the team for goals last season, netting five through the season to go along with one assist. Roche started in just four games last season, so if given more minutes, he could make a big difference on the offensive end.

Another key returner is sophomore midfielder Ander Marticorena, who received Big Ten All-Freshman Team honors in 2025. Throughout his rookie campaign, Marticorena netted one goal and six assists across 16 starts.

With more experience entering his sophomore season, Marticorena’s impact could expand throughout the season.

Despite having his name called 33rd in the 2026 MLS SuperDraft, defender Tre Wright will be returning to Westwood for his senior campaign. Wright played in all 19 games last season – starting in 18 – primarily at the center back position.

[Related: UCLA men’s soccer sees three players selected in MLS SuperDraft]

The 2025 Big Ten Sportsmanship Award winner aided in the team’s eight shutouts through the year and will return as a solid force on the Bruins’ back line. The back line will stay consistent with the return of Shakir Nixon as well, who started in 18 games last season, playing 19. Nixon was also called up to the USA U20 January camp.

Also returning on the defensive side for the Bruins is sophomore goalkeeper Ryan Tiltack, who started in eight games last year. Throughout that frame, he conceded an average of 1.38 goals per game.

The leadership provided by the 12 returners will be key in transitioning to a squad welcoming a plethora of transfers.

The freshmen

Last year, the squad boasted 11 freshmen.

This season, that number is down to just three.

But the talent brought by this group could be crucial in the rebuilding of the squad.

Defender Marcus Jackson was awarded Gatorade National Boys Soccer Player of the Year for his success during the high school season.

[Related: UCLA men’s soccer commit named Gatorade Player of the Year]

Through his senior campaign, he netted 18 goals and had five assists, all while playing on a defensive line that recorded 10 shutouts. His consistency and strength on the backline as well as his efforts attacking should effectively complement the returning Bruin defense.

Goalkeeper Tristan Shaw is coming to Westwood from Scottsdale, Arizona. Shaw played for Phoenix Rising FC, a member of the USL Championship league, so he has experience with top-tier players.

The final rookie is forward James Lane, who played for LAFC Academy for four years. Lane was one of just 16 players called up to the USA U19 January camp.

Entering the collegiate game proves challenging, but the experience and skill set of the recruits should help make their time transitioning to Westwood easier.

The transfers

The biggest group entering the 2026 season is the transfer squad, consisting of 14 players.

One top transfer is fifth-year defender Dylan Hooper. In his redshirt-freshman and redshirt-sophomore seasons at Stanford, Hooper started 38 games and logged two goals. This past season, though, he played in eight games and started just one.

Hooper’s experience at a top program in the country should allow him to translate over well, despite his lack of minutes in 2025.

The 2025 ASUN Freshman of the Year, defender Logan Hall, will also be looking to bolster the Bruins’ defensive efforts after playing in 17 games and starting 14 during his singular season at Jacksonville.

Entering through the Arsenal Academy is junior defender Henry Jeffcott, who has represented Northern Ireland at the U19 and U23 levels.

Midfielder Jaime Amaro will be entering his junior season after transferring in from Bryant and is poised to make an immediate impact. Drafted 72nd overall in the 2026 MLS SuperDraft, the Third Team All-American led the American East regular season with 10 goals and seven assists in 2025.

Another junior midfielder coming in is Zachary Neuls from UC Davis who played in 19 games last season, starting 18. Through two seasons at Davis, Neuls recorded six goals and one assist.

Coming in for the front line is fifth-year forward Cameron Arnold. Arnold spent four years at James Madison, redshirting his true-junior season in 2024. Through his three seasons with the Dukes, Arnold played 55 games with 28 starts, scoring a total of 13 goals and contributing nine assists.

With seven of the Bruins’ 14 transfers coming from overseas, it will be interesting to see how the newcomers adjust to collegiate soccer. Their experience, either internationally or through the NCAA, will prove to be crucial when transitioning to the UCLA gameplan.