MURFREESBORO, N.C. – With the start of the 2026 men's soccer season just over a week away, the Hawks are preparing to enter the new campaign with the same goal in mind: build on the program's years of success under head coach Chris Whalley.

2026 Conference Carolinas Preseason Poll

Conference Carolinas released its 2026 Men's Soccer Preseason Poll on Wednesday morning, with Chowan selected to finish third among the league's 15 men's soccer programs.

The Hawks received one first-place vote and totaled 169 points in the poll. Young Harris claimed the top spot with nine first-place votes and 189 points, while Francis Marion followed in second with three first-place votes and 174 points.

North Greenville and Converse joined Chowan in receiving one first-place vote each. North Greenville was selected fourth with 161 points, while Converse rounded out the top five with 146 points.

Barton was picked sixth with 119 points, followed closely by Lees-McRae with 116 points in seventh. Belmont Abbey came in eighth with 99 points, just ahead of Mount Olive with 97 points in ninth. Emmanuel rounded out the top 10 with 81 points.

Ferrum (68), King (57), Southern Wesleyan (56), Erskine (27) and Shorter (16) completed the preseason poll.

The Conference Carolinas Men's Soccer Preseason Poll is voted on by the league's head coaches, who are not permitted to vote for their own program.

 

	School	Points (1st Place)
1	Young Harris	189 (9)
2	Francis Marion	174 (3)
3	Chowan	169 (1)
4	North Greenville	161 (1)
5	Converse	146 (1)
6	Barton	119
7	Lees-McRae	116
8	Belmont Abbey	99
9	Mount Olive	97
10	Emmanuel	81
11	Ferrum	68
12	King	57
13	Southern Wesleyan	56
14	Erskine	27
15	Shorter	16

 

2026 Conference Carolinas Players to Watch

Each Conference Carolinas member institution selects three Players to Watch who are expected to make a significant impact on their team during the upcoming season. This year, the Hawks are represented by Robbie Deighan, Clay Verdin and Lucas Kibrya.

Junior Robbie Deighan, a three-year member of the program from Bolton, England, enters the season as one of Chowan's most experienced returning players. Deighan made an immediate impact during his freshman campaign, earning the 2024 Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Year award. Playing in the midfield and at forward, Deighan has appeared in 27 contests over his first two seasons while serving as a consistent starter for the Hawks. He has recorded five career goals and one assist for 13 total points, including 14 shots on goal and one game-winning goal. Deighan was also perfect from the penalty spot during the 2025 season, converting all three of his attempts. Now entering his third season, Deighan brings valuable experience and a strong understanding of the culture and style of play that have helped shape the program's success.

Sophomore Clay Verdin of Burlington, North Carolina, looks to build upon a strong freshman campaign. Verdin closed out his first collegiate season with an impressive showing in the 2025 Conference Carolinas Tournament, earning a spot on the All-Tournament Team. The midfielder started 12 games during his freshman season, recording three goals and two assists for eight total points. With a full season of collegiate experience behind him, Verdin enters year two looking to expand his role and continue developing into a key contributor for the Hawks.

Sophomore goalkeeper Lucas Kibrya stepped into a major role for the Hawks as a freshman and quickly established himself in goal. The Birmingham, England native earned the starting position and started every match during the 2025 campaign, helping Chowan record six shutouts with a total of 65 saves on the season. After gaining valuable experience throughout his first collegiate season, Kibrya enters year two with a season of starting experience under his belt and looks to continue providing a strong presence in goal for the Hawks.

Chowan

• Clay Verdin, So., M, Burlington, North Carolina (2025 Conference Carolinas All-Tournament)

• Lucas Kibrya, So., GK, Birmingham, England

• Robbie Deighan, Jr., M/F, Bolton, England (2024 Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Year)

Barton

• Bruno Marques, Jr., F, Piracicaba, Brazil

• Romeo Verhage, Fr., F, Alicante, Spain

• Kai Thurston, Sr., D, Harleston, England

Belmont Abbey

• Luca Pereira, Jr., M, Johannesburg, South Africa

• Sam Howe, Jr., M, Charlotte, North Carolina

• Pat Hissim, Sr., D, Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Converse

• Jacob Bandel, So., F, Sherrills Ford, North Carolina (2025 All-Conference first team, D2 CCA All-Southeast Region second team)

• Levi Bankirer, So., F, Mooresville, North Carolina (2025 All-Conference second team)

• Jesper Schierholz, Sr., D, Walsrode, Germany (2025 All-Conference third team)

Emmanuel

• Dylan Persinger, Sr., D, Loganville, Georgia

• Alex Walker, Sr., M, Lawrenceville, Georgia

• Pau Recasens, Sr., D, La Riera De Gaià, Tarragona

Erskine

• Joe Roberts, Sr., M, Southend, England

• Evan Williams, Sr., F, Camden, South Carolina

• Aaron Cardoza-Paz, Sr., M, West Palm Beach, Florida

Ferrum

• Michael Arzillo, Sr., GK, Virginia Beach, Virginia

• Oliver McIntosh, So., F, Sydney, Australia

• Filimon Asfha, Sr., M, Birmingham, England

Francis Marion

• David Guevara, Gr., D, Guayaquil, Ecuador (2025 D2 CCA All-Southeast Region first team, 2025 United Soccer Coaches All-Southeast Region second team, 2025 All-Conference Carolinas first team, 2024 United Soccer Coaches All-Southeast Region third team, 2024 All-Conference Carolinas third team)

• Gian-Carlo Kama, Gr., F, Paris, France (2025 All-SAC first team)

• Vicent Sanchis, Gr., GK, Valencia, Spain

King

• Jacob Pope, So., M, Portsmouth, England

• Eric Swain, Sr., M, Marietta, Georgia

• Cian McGoey, Sr., M, Limerick, Ireland

Lees-McRae

• Adam Condron, Jr., D, Dublin, Ireland (2025 All-Conference Carolinas third team)

• Conor Hart, Sr., M, Atlanta, Georgia

• Jonathan Kienle, Sr., GK, Heidenheim, Germany

Mount Olive

• Kevin Jimenez, Jr. D, Knightdale, North Carolina

• Haytham Abraham, Sr., M, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

• Pierce Slater, Sophomore, F, Charlottesville, Virginia

North Greenville

• Ezra Hoffman, Gr., F, Dacula, Georgia

• Ethan Henderson, So., F, Hartlepool, England

• Rodrigo Silva, Jr., D, Los Andes, Valparaiso, Chile (All-Conference Carolinas second team)

Shorter

• Gabe DeHart, So., F, Armuchee, Georgia

• Levi Treviño, Gr., M, Douglasville, Georgia

• Carter Morningstar, Jr., F, Kathleen, Georgia

Southern Wesleyan

• Sebastian Zumbado, So., F, Heredia, Costa Rica

• Jacob Zúñiga, Fr., F, San Jose, Costa Rica

• Davíð Leó Lund, Fr., D, Husavik, Iceland

Young Harris

• Filip Zander, Jr., F, Stockholm, Sweden (2025 All-Conference Carolinas first team, 2025 D2 CCA All-Southeast Region first team)

• Daniel Osorno, Sr., F, Medellin, Colombia (2025 All-Conference Carolinas third team)

• Fredrik Berge, Jr., M, Norway, Kristiansand
   

The Season Ahead

The Hawks will open the 2026 season at home with the Michael Shope Memorial Tournament, featuring Virginia State, Concord and Conference Carolinas opponent Lees-McRae. Chowan will begin tournament action under the lights on August 27, hosting Lees-McRae at 7:00 p.m. Following a one-day break, the tournament will resume on August 29 as the Hawks take on Concord University at 4:00 p.m.

Chowan's early-season homestand will continue as the Hawks open Conference Carolinas play against Francis Marion University on September 5 at 7:00 p.m. The Hawks will remain at home for matchups against Emory & Henry on September 9 and Erskine on September 12 before closing out the stretch against Barton on September 16.

The Hawks will hit the road for the first time on September 19, traveling to Rome, Georgia, to face Shorter in conference action. Chowan will return home to host Mount Olive on September 22 before heading back on the road to face King University in Bristol, Tennessee. The Hawks will then step outside of conference play for a matchup against Division I opponent the University of Tampa on September 30.

Chowan will open the month of October back at home, hosting Ferrum College on October 3 before traveling to Wilson, North Carolina, for its second meeting of the season with Barton. The Hawks will then return home on October 10 for a matchup against defending conference champion Young Harris.

The regular season will close with a pair of road contests as Chowan travels to Mount Olive on October 20 before wrapping up the regular-season slate at Ferrum on October 24. 

The 2026 Conference Carolinas Men's Soccer Championship is scheduled to start with preliminary rounds on October 28 and 31 before the semifinals and final will be competed at Truist Soccer Complex at Bryan Park in Browns Summit, North Carolina on November 6 and 8.