WINFIELD, Kan. — Southwestern College enters the 2026 men's soccer season looking to build on an 11-win campaign with an experienced group returning across the field.
The Moundbuilders finished 10-9 overall and 7-6 in conference play in 2025, including a 6-5 record at home. Southwestern scored 42 goals in 19 games and averaged 2.21 goals and 12.3 shots per game. The Builders put 118 of their 233 shots on goal and finished with 32 assists.
Southwestern's returning group is led by defenders Adrian Gimenez and Nicola Antiglio and midfielders Zach Hammar and Bernabe Lopez, all of whom saw significant action last season and are on the 2026 roster.
Gimenez returns for his junior season after starting all 18 games he played in during 2025. He was part of a Southwestern defense that posted five shutouts and held opponents to 32 goals in 19 games. Gimenez also attempted 12 shots, with three on goal. The 2026 roster lists the Madrid, Spain, native as a defender.
Antiglio provides another experienced presence on the back line. The graduate student started all 19 games last season and recorded one assist while putting four of his six shots on goal. Antiglio and Gimenez give the Builders two returners who combined for 37 starts in 2025.
The midfield also brings back experience in Hammar and Lopez. Hammar appeared in all 19 games last season, making eight starts and recording an assist. The Winfield native returns as a senior in 2026.
Lopez produced one of the strongest offensive seasons among Southwestern's returning players. He scored three goals and added three assists for nine points in 15 appearances, including nine starts. Lopez put nine of his 15 shots on goal and scored one game-winner. He returns as a junior and is listed as a midfielder on the 2026 roster.
Several other players on the 2026 roster also gained experience last season.
Junior midfielder Denis Martinez appeared in 17 games and made 16 starts, putting eight of his 11 shots on goal. Sophomore Luke Anderson played in 15 games with seven starts, while sophomore forward Francesco Rochelli appeared in 13 contests and recorded an assist. All three are listed on Southwestern's 2026 roster.
The Builders also return forwards Christian Banda and Jose Mejia. Banda scored twice in six appearances last season, putting four of six shots on goal. Mejia scored once in five games. Both are sophomores on the 2026 roster.
Defenders Noah El-Masri, Aidan Wiggs, Cooper Bates and Eamon Shaw also return after appearing for Southwestern in 2025. Wiggs played in 14 games and recorded two assists, while Bates appeared in seven games, Shaw played in six and El-Masri appeared in four with one assist. The group is part of a 2026 roster that combines returning experience with a sizable group of newcomers.
Consistency will be a key for Southwestern after the Builders showed how productive they could be at their best last season. Southwestern scored 37 goals across its 11 victories, averaging 3.36 goals in those games, while allowing 13. In its eight losses, the Builders managed five goals.
Southwestern was particularly productive at home, scoring 29 goals in 11 games for an average of 2.64 per contest while allowing 15. The Builders scored 13 goals in eight road games.
After a 2025 season that included five shutouts and 42 goals, Southwestern enters 2026 with proven experience in defense and midfield. Gimenez and Antiglio give the Builders continuity on the back line, while Hammar and Lopez provide returning experience in the middle of the field.
With Lopez offering proven production and several younger players returning after earning minutes a year ago, the Builders will look to turn that experience into another winning season in 2026.
