A new chapter is beginning for Pacific men's soccer.

After graduating a large group of upperclassmen over the past two seasons, the Boxers enter 2026 with a younger roster that features a strong sophomore and junior presence, along with an incoming freshman class that has brought renewed energy to the program.

The faces may be different, but head coach Brandon Porter believes the identity of his team remains the same.

"We're holding true to being a really hard-working team, a really organized team," Porter said. "But they're also a pretty versatile and coachable group. We like that because it gives us a lot of options and flexibility within our roster. They're fun. They get along really well. They're willing to do whatever job is in front of them."

The Boxers return an important piece in goal.

Sophomore Kobi Miyamoto is back after earning All-Northwest Conference recognition following an impressive freshman campaign. 

Miyamoto, who finished second in the NWC last season  in both saves (68) and shutouts (4), gives Pacific an experienced presence between the posts and provides a foundation for a young defensive group.

"Honestly, there's not a whole lot he (Miyamoto) can improve on from last year," Porter said. "I think it's incumbent on midfield and forwards to produce a little bit more and give him a little bit more goal support. We'd love to see him mature and be more vocal and have a little bit more of a presence in the 18. But he had a great freshman year and we hope he can improve upon that."

For Pacific to take the next step as a team, the Boxers will need to provide more offensive support after scoring 19 total goals in 19 matches last season. 

Sophomore Cole Affolter, who scored three goals in his first year at Pacific, is one player Porter believes can help lead that effort.

"What he (Affolter) does best is he draws a lot of attention," Porter said. "He's good on the ball, very steady and he's a great finisher with both feet. We hope that he can be in the all-conference conversation at the end of the season."

Junior Carter Zeiset, who led the team with five goals last fall, also returns along with senior Caden Matsumoto, senior Nico Lomanto, junior Elliott Morgan and senior Mason Pyne. 

"I like that we have a lot of forwards with very little to no egos when it comes to the work they are willing to put in for each other," Porter said. "They ask a lot of good questions and are willing to take on different roles within our front runners to produce some attack," Porter said.

Another young player Porter expects to make an impact is sophomore defender Trenton Zimmermann. At 6-foot-4, Zimmermann brings plenty of size and athleticism to the Pacific back line. But Porter believes what makes him particularly exciting is how much his overall game has developed.

"We really think that Trenton Zimmermann is well on his way to being a very, very well-known player in this conference," Porter said. "Obviously with his stature and size, he's a big athlete. But he moves really well and his soccer has really grown a lot in the last year. We're excited for him to take the next step, too."

If there is one trait Porter expects to define Pacific in 2026, it is work rate.

The Boxers want their effort to be a constant regardless of the opponent or circumstances.

"We want to outwork our opponent and we're going to need to," Porter said. "Obviously, if you want to compete in this conference, work rate and effort is a given."

Porter expects the conference race to once again be competitive from top to bottom.

"The top teams, Whitman and PLU, are really quality and they didn't lose a ton," Porter said. "So we're going to have our hands full when we play them, but the conference is a fickle table for sure. "Any team can beat any other team on any given day in our conference. Not a lot of blowouts."

For the Boxers, success will come down to preparation and consistency. 

"You've got to be consistently focused day in and day out, especially on game day," Porter said. "You've got to have a very good game plan and you have to have players that are willing to work and compete."

Pacific opens the 2026 regular season on Friday, Sept. 4 at Bushell.

"We loved the seniors from the last couple of years but we're excited about turning a new page in our program," Porter said.

For the latest information on Pacific Athletics, make sure to check out GoBoxers.com. You can also find the Boxers on social media at @GoBoxers on Instagram and Twitter.
 
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