After exiting the NJAC Tournament in the semifinals last season, the Montclair State University men’s soccer team is looking to follow up their dominant 2025 regular season with another strong regular season and postseason push in 2026.
Despite being knocked out by The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Postseason Tournament last season, the Red Hawks had a strong regular season, where they won 12 games, lost twice and drew five. From nine conference games, they won five times, lost once and drew three.
A big reason for the men’s soccer team’s success last season was the play of forward Danny Tobon. During his senior year, the Clifton native led the team with 13 goal contributions, was named to the United Soccer Coaches first-team all-region and named an NJAC honorable mention.
This year will be Todd Tumelty’s 16th season as head coach of Montclair State. Under the guidance of Tumelty and his staff the men’s soccer team has been tremendously consistent. Since he took over in 2011, the men’s soccer team have appeared in 14 NJAC tournaments, won five NJAC championships, won nine NJAC regular season championships and made 10 NCAA tournament appearances.
Over the last three seasons, the team has won two NJAC regular season championships, an NJAC Tournament championship in 2023 and made it to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA tournament. Tumelty is the winningest head coach in program history.
While Tumelty hasn’t won a national title with Montclair State, one of his biggest achievements was coaching current Rutgers Scarlet Knight Amer Lukovic in 2023, where Lukovic led the NCAA Division III in points, goals and game-winning goals on the way to being named Division II Player of the Year. His other big achievement was guiding Montclair State to the Final Four of the NCAA Division III tournament in his very first season of 2011.
The Red Hawks men’s soccer team will begin their 2026 season on the road in Poughkeepsie, NY against Vassar College on September 1. The Red Hawks have a 7-3-1 all-time record against the Brewers which includes having won their last two meetings.
The men’s soccer team’s home opener is on September 7 vs Brooklyn college at MSU Soccer Park. The Red Hawks hold a 5-1 record against the Bulldogs and have won their last four meetings.
The Montclair State men’s soccer team will host rivals TCNJ on October 7 and Rowan on October 14 at MSU Soccer Park.
With a strong group of returning players and an established winning culture expectations should be to make it to the final of the NJAC tournament and make the program’s 22nd appearance in the NCAA Division III tournament.
Find the full Montclair State men’s soccer schedule here.
