Providence College Athletics

Thursday, August 20
Providence, R.I.
7:00 PM

Providence College

vs

Sacred Heart

Men's Soccer's Fernando Garcia Gil in action against Villanova
Photo by: Brian Foley for Foley-Photograph

Men's Soccer Set To Host Sacred Heart In 2026 Season-Opener On Thursday

8/18/2026 3:13:00 PM | Men's Soccer

The Friars and Pioneers will battle at 7 p.m. on Chapey Field at Anderson Stadium on Thursday.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. –  The Providence College men's soccer team opens at home against Sacred Heart on Thursday, August 20 to begin the 2026 campaign. The game is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on Chapey Field at Anderson Stadium. 

STREAMING - ESPN+
LIVE STATS – Friars.com

SCOUTING THE FRIARS…
Providence concluded the 2025 campaign with a 6-7-3 overall record including a 4-2-2 mark in BIG EAST play. The team finished third in the East Division of the BIG EAST and qualified for the BIG EAST Tournament as the No. 4 seed. The Friars reached the BIG EAST Tournament Semifinals, ultimately falling 2-0 to eventual conference champion Georgetown. 

RETURNERS…
- The Friars return 13 players from last year's roster. 
- Graduate student Sam Montalto (Stonington, Conn.) is back for the Friars after receiving ALL-BIG EAST Third Team Honors in 2025. Montalto led the way with a team-high five goals and three assists for 13 points.  He was named to the 2026 Preseason All-BIG EAST Team.
- Sophomore midfielder Angelo Ventrella (Toronto, Ont.) enters his second season after a breakout freshman campaign in which he matched Montalto with five goals across 15 appearances. Ventrella received BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week and Freshman of the Week (11/10/25). 
- Senior midfielder Fernando Garcia Gil (Granada, Spain) also returns after appearing in 15 matches in 2025, totaling two goals and two assists to provide another experienced attacking option for the Friars.
- Senior defender Brandon Marshall (Wake Forest, N.C.) returns for his fourth season in Providence with 40 career appearances. Marshall was named to the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team and was named the 2026 USL2 Defender of the Year as a member of Vermont Green FC.
- In goal, redshirt sophomore Ryan Carney (Dunstable, Mass.) returns after starting all 16 matches for Providence in 2025. He posted a 1.32 goals-against average with 43 saves, a .672 save percentage and three shutouts, and was invited to the 2026 U.S. U20 Men's National Team training camp.
 
NEWCOMERS…
- The Friars welcome a total of 14 newcomers to the 2026 roster, including seven freshmen and seven transfers.
- Graduate forward Caleb Williams (Attleboro, Mass.) joins the Friars after spending the 2025 season at Hofstra and four seasons at Franklin Pierce University. He appeared in seven matches for the Pride after helping Franklin Pierce capture two NCAA Division II National Championships (2022, 2023), where he totaled eight goals and two assists in 40 career appearances. He earned First Team All-NE10 honors in 2023 after recording seven goals and one assist.
- Graduate goalkeeper Tino Kneis (West Chester, Pa.) joins the Friars after four seasons at La Salle, where he appeared in 35 matches and made 33 starts. He recorded 103 career saves, including 70 in 16 starts during the 2025 season, and set a La Salle program record with a 0.86 goals-against average in 2024. He was named Philly Soccer Six Goalkeeper of the Week in 2022 and 2024 and earned Atlantic 10 Commissioner's Honor Roll recognition in 2022 and 2023.
- Junior Alvaro Maneiro (Madrid, Spain) joins the Friars after two seasons at Iona. He appeared in all 36 matches with 30 starts, recording 10 goals and four assists. He earned All-MAAC Second Team, MAAC All-Championship Team and CSC Academic All-District honors in 2025 after leading the Gaels with seven goals and 16 points.
- Other transfers include junior goalkeeper Karan Sobti (Singapore) from William & Mary, Jack Slade (Bolton, Mass.) from High Point, Luis Gutierrez (Stamford, Conn.) and Adrian Garcia (Madrid, Spain) from Mercer Country Community College.
The incoming freshman class includes Ian Morel (Pawtucket, R.I.), Tommy Tsouros (Concord, N.H.), Gabriel Solis (Fort Mill, S.C.), Jack Klein (Garden City, N.Y.), Karim Eljamal (Tewksbury, Mass.), David Casado (Alicante, Spain) and Aiden Tucker (Cumberland, R.I.).

BIG EAST PRESEASON AWARDS AND COACHES POLL…
Sam Montalto and Brandon Marshall were both recognized with Preseason All-BIG EAST Team accolades. The Friars were picked to finish third in the BIG EAST East Division Preseason Coaches' Poll, earning one first place vote.   

BIG EAST Preseason Men's Soccer Coaches' Poll
East Division
(first-place votes)
1. Georgetown (11)  66
2. UConn  46
3. Providence (1)  45
4. St. John's  37
5. Seton Hall  36
6. Villanova  16
 
Midwest Division
(first-place votes)
1. Akron (11)  66
2. Creighton (1)  56
3. Xavier  43
4. Marquette  34
5. DePaul  27
6. Butler  20

SERIES HISTORY AGAINST SACRED HEART…
The Friars hold a 7-0-0 all-time record against the Pioneers. The teams last met on Sept. 14, 2019, when Providence earned a 4-0 victory on Chapey Field at Anderson Stadium.

SCOUTING THE PIONEERS…
- The Pioneers finished the 2025 season with an 8-6-2 overall record, including a 3-3-2 mark in conference play. 
- Junior forward Ivan Morcillo after earning All-MAAC First Team honors in 2025. Morcillo led the Pioneers with seven goals and one assist for a team-high 15 points while appearing in all 17 matches.
- Senior midfielder Danny Istambouli also returns after totaling six goals and four assists for 16 points in 15 appearances. Istambouli earned All-MAAC Second Team honors in 2025.
- Graduate defender Daniel Losfablos anchors the Pioneers' back line after being named the 2025 MAAC Defender of the Year. Losfablos appeared in all 17 matches, recording three goals on 19 shots.

For more updates on the Providence men's soccer program, follow the team on Twitter @PCFriarsMSoccer.
 
-GO FRIARS!-
 
Friday, November 07
Saturday, October 25
Friday, October 17
Friday, October 03