Waterville, Maine - The 2026-27 home athletic calendar officially opens on Mayflower Hill this Friday night as the Colby Men's Soccer team takes the pitch to host Wheaton College under the lights at 8:00pm. The season-opening battle marks the first meeting between the two programs since 2015, when Wheaton earned a 2-0 victory.

Colby is coming off a competitive 2025 campaign that saw the program finish 5-4-6 overall. The Mules navigated a relentless NESCAC schedule, demonstrating relentless defensive grit and battling through a tightly contested conference slate.

Head Coach Sean Elvert enters his second season at the helm for the Mules, aiming to build on the foundation set in year one. Elvert is joined on the sidelines by assistant coaches Ben Manoogian, Yuri Nascimento, and Karl Schroeder.

"There's a lot of excitement around this group and the direction we're headed," said Elvert. "We've brought in a talented and energetic group of new players who have added quality, competition, and depth across the field. They complement a strong returning core that gives us a tremendous amount of experience and continuity as we prepare for the season."

"We're entering an important and exciting phase for our program. This group has done a phenomenal job of raising the standards within the team and embracing the expectations that come with being a part of Colby Men's Soccer. There's a strong belief in what this group can accomplish, and we are excited to prove ourselves this fall."

The foundation for the 2026 season relies on a leadership group of seven returning seniors as well as standout goalkeeper Jackson Magee '28. The Brookline, Mass. native earned a spot on the United Soccer Coaches NCAA DIII All-Region 1 Second Team following a stellar sophomore campaign. Magee played every single minute in net for Colby in 2025 (1,350 total minutes across 15 games), collecting 45 saves with a 0.738 save percentage. The veteran core will be bolstered by a talented incoming class, as 11 first-years join the program looking to make an immediate impact.

With a strong balance of veteran leadership and new talent, the Mules have all the pieces in place to make a statement starting Friday night on home turf.

Fans can follow alongside the action using the live video and live stats links for all home games as well as check out the schedule tab to catch the Mules when they come to a location near you. Following Friday's home opener, Colby hits the road for back-to-back matches against Thomas and Tufts before returning to Waterville for a five-game home stretch.