Millsaps Men’s Soccer Prepares for 2026 Season With New and Returning Talent
The Millsaps College men’s soccer team is gearing up for the 2026 season with a roster of 44 players, including 22 returners and 22 newcomers, the school announced. The team is led by fourth-year head coach Gentry Johnson, along with assistant coaches Stephen Roberson, Derek Anderson and Michael Azzarone.
Last season, the Majors scored 33 goals, with 26 assists and 55 saves. They ranked 24th in NCAA Division III with 95 shots on goal, according to school officials.
Senior Myles Walden, from Fort Mitchell, Alabama, returns after earning a spot on the 2025 All-SAA Sportsmanship Team. As a freshman, Walden led the team with eight goals in 17 games and two starts, playing 755 minutes. He ranked sixth in the conference with eight goals and added one assist and one game-winning goal.
Junior Ellis Dykes also returns, having led the team with six assists and 21 shots on goal last season. Dykes scored four goals and recorded two assists, ranking second on the team. He posted two assists in a 2-2 draw against LeTourneau University on Sept. 6, and scored in back-to-back matches against MUW and Sept. 4.
Fellow sophomore Raul Blandon played all 17 games last season, starting 16. He scored three goals and added two assists, with 23 shots and 12 on goal. Blandon scored his first collegiate goal in the season opener against MUW on Aug. 29, which Millsaps won 6-1.
Junior Drew McKeithen, a member of the 2025 Fall SAA Academic Honor Roll, started all 17 games. He scored two goals and attempted nine shots, with five on target. Other returning players include sophomores Daniel Lee and Dylan Speaks, who contributed offensively with two goals and two goals, respectively.
The team’s defensive lineup includes returning players like senior Ian Woodrey, juniors Drake Dilodovico and Kaleb Wilkins, and sophomore Hughes Schneidau. The team’s forward unit features Dykes, Walden, senior Ethan Pratt, and juniors Dawson Alexandre and Nicholas Theriot.
Goalkeeping duties will be contested by four players: senior Gavin Pocasangre, junior Alden Davenport, and sophomores Edward Steinwand and Beau Bartholomew. Steinwand played five matches last season, recording three saves and helping secure a 4-2 victory over United States Sports University on Oct. 14.
Davenport, from Houston, Texas, has shown strong performance, including wins over MUW and Tougaloo College. The midfield is expected to be competitive, with seniors Braden Walters and Ryan Hoover, juniors Alden Romano and Harrison Williams, and sophomores Christian Lopez and Brady Bell all vying for playing time.
The team added 17 freshmen with diverse competitive backgrounds, along with graduate transfer Jannik Stockfisch from Barton College and three NJCAA transfers. The Majors aim for a successful season, competing in 18 regular-season matches, with six home games scheduled at Harper Davis Field starting Sept. 4.
Their schedule includes key conference matchups and a potential postseason appearance in the SAA Championship tournament, which begins Nov. 5. Fans can follow the team’s progress on X, Instagram, Facebook, and at gomajors.com.
Source: Original Article
