The wait is nearly over for New York University men's soccer.
The Violets will officially kick off their 2026 campaign on Wednesday, September 2, at 8:00pm, taking on Hunter College at Lubetkin Field at Mal Simon Stadium in Newark, NJ.
After a strong preseason, NYU enters opening night with confidence and depth throughout its roster as the Violets prepare to put months of training into action.
"We feel very confident in our team's talent, experience, and overall depth across every position," said Head Coach Kim Wyant.
History will also be on the Violets' side Wednesday night.
NYU enters the match-up holding a 14-1 all-time record against Hunter, including a nine-match winning streak in the series and a 7-0 record at home. The Violets delivered a dominant performance the last time the two teams met in 2022, earning a 9-0 victory.
But, new season's create new challenges, and NYU will look to make an immediate statement with several key contributors returning to the field.
Junior midfielder Joe Brancato is among the returning front end players to watch. As a sophomore last season, he appeared in 14 matches and earned five starts, recording two goals and one assist.
Also returning on the offensive side is senior forward Keyon Namdar, who finished last season with one goal and three assists. His ability to create scoring opportunities provides yet another side to an NYU attack looking to establish itself early in the season.
The Violets also return experience along the back line.
Sophomore defenseman Lazar Mijatovic enters his sophomore campaign after logging more than 900 minutes as a freshman, giving NYU an experienced young presence on defense. He will be joined by junior Julian Recio and sophomore Eric Wainer in providing the Violets with a familiar defensive core heading into opening night.
Behind that back line, NYU also brings back experience in goal.
Senior goalkeeper Jackson McCloskey returns after spending a team-high eight matches in the net last season, giving the Violets an experienced asset between the posts.
With talent returning on both sides of the ball, a healthy roster and a productive preseason behind them, the Violets now have their first opportunity to see how those pieces come together in competitive action.
"Everyone is currently healthy, and we have full faith in the quality of every player to guide us through a grueling season," Wyant added. "Following a great preseason, we are excited and ready to transition into competitive play."
Wednesday night will provide that first test.
