LEBANON, Tenn. -- After a record-setting offensive campaign in 2025, Cumberland University men's soccer enters the 2026 season looking to turn last year's success into a deeper postseason run.
In Head Coach
Brian Davies' first season at the helm of the men's team, the Phoenix finished the campaign with a 14-4-3 overall record and went 3-2-1 in Mid-South Conference play, finishing fourth in the league standings. Cumberland's 70 goals were the most in the Mid-South Conference, while the Phoenix averaged 17.9 shots per game and finished the season with just 28 goals conceded. Cumberland's attack consistently put pressure on opposing defenses throughout the season, scoring three or more goals in 11 games, including a 13-0 victory over UHSP and a 9-0 shutout of Georgetown in conference play.
The Phoenix advanced to the Mid-South Conference Championship match, where they faced Bethel. Cumberland's run ultimately ended with a 2-0 defeat in that match, leaving the team with unfinished business heading into the 2026 MSC campaign.
Cumberland then earned a host bid in the NAIA Men's Soccer Championship and took down Carroll (Mont.), advancing to the final site for the first time in program history before falling to No. 9 Georgia Gwinnett, 2-1.
The Phoenix return depth in the final third, highlighted by
Wesley Mendoza,
David Barbakadze,
Rex Pearce, and
Nicolas Sanchez. Mendoza's shining moment came in the National Tournament against Carroll, where he scored and assisted in the victory.
Pearce headlines the incoming group after transferring from Division I Detroit Mercy. The Sydney, Australia, native brings an impressive scoring pedigree to the Phoenix attack. Before making his way to CU, Pearce was a NJCAA All-America Third Team selection and First Team All-Region 20 honoree, finishing his two-year career at Hartford Community College with 22 goals, 11 assists, and 55 points.
In midfield, the Phoenix return their greatest number of players, with
Harold Perea,
Luis Cerejo,
Jostin Angel,
Juan Juarez, and
Edgar Salazar all coming back for another year. The middle of the park was also bolstered by the additions of transfers
Adrien Jogerst and
Oscar Gomez.
Leading the group of returning players is
Luis Cerejo, who started all 21 games for Cumberland in 2025 and played the most minutes on the team. The Portuguese midfielder finished the season with 11 goals and 15 assists, providing a consistent attacking threat throughout the campaign. He also scored Cumberland's second goal in the Phoenix's 3-0 win over Carroll in the NAIA tournament.
Behind him, both
Jostin Angel and
Harold Perea played an average of 1,500 minutes and appeared in 19 of the season's games. Perea scored three goals and chipped in nine assists, while his compatriot Angel tallied seven goal contributions as well.
Finally, in the defensive third,
Mark Donaldson returns after starting and captaining the Phoenix in all 21 games last season, giving Cumberland experience across the back line. The pairing of Cerejo and Donaldson were both selected as Second Team All-Conference members, while Cumberland's top awards went to a pair of NAIA All-American First Teamers,
Philipp Schmidtke and
Miquel Gelabert, the first such honor in team history.
Elsewhere in the defense, the Phoenix will look to lean on junior transfer
Callum Geoghegan, who now becomes the tallest player in the defense, standing at 6-foot-3.
Benjamin Young,
Moses Mupenzi, and
Kacper Wolicki all add a combined 10 years of college experience, while
Enea Elmazi and
Conor Crowley add depth and energy.
Between the posts, the Phoenix added a pair of transfers in
Pau Gelabert and
Matthew Evans, while both
George Irons and
Maddox Robertson return for their junior seasons. Irons comes in as the most veteran of the group, starting in 15 games as a freshman and adding two MSC Defensive Player of the Week honors in his debut campaign.
The Phoenix men's soccer team will look to have a strong start in their first game this Wednesday, August 26, as they take on Bryan College on the road in Dayton, Tennessee, with kickoff at 4 p.m.
