The University of Jamestown men's soccer team, under second year head coach Justin Gilfert, is set to begin their 2026 season at home against Morningside University on Thursday, August 27.  
 
"I am very excited to get this season underway," said Gilfert. "Having experienced a mix of teams last year, including some very tough NCAA Division II programs, has made this team and recruiting class stronger. Having the returners who played significant minutes last year back again this year and with some of our freshman and transfers we brought in, the teams' identity has become better in certain areas."
 
The Jimmies will compete as independent members of NCAA Division II for the 2026 season. Back in March, UJ entered a three-year affiliate membership agreement with the Great Northwest Athletic Conference starting in the fall of 2027. Jamestown will play a game against all their future GNAC opponents as part of their 2026 schedule.
 
"With us announcing our move to the GNAC and being a schedule affiliate member with them this year, we are looking to make a stamp on the season in a positive way that the teams we play will know who we are, and what we are about," Gilfert noted.
 
The Team
 
Top returners for the UJ include Will Tubaro and Clayton Kepler with each recording one goal and one assist from last year. Josh Jackson, Freddie Tomkinson, and Nathan Kopecky also make their way back to Jamestown after each scored a goal in 2025.  
 
Jamestown returns a couple of netminders from a season ago as well in Valon Ismaili and Conner Warren. Ismaili started in five games back in 2025, recording 23 saves in 450 minutes. Warren made two appearances with a start, registering a win and a couple saves in 51 minutes of action.
 
The Staff
 
Justin Gilfert returns to lead of the Jimmies for his second season. A 2016 graduate of Hilbert College, the Olean, New York native worked as an assistant for several years after graduation. Gilfert got his first head coaching job at Adams State University back in 2022 before making his way to the Jimmies starting in 2025. 

Marko Madaras will join the staff as a graduate assistant for Jamestown beginning this season. Madaras, a native of Pecs, Hungary, grew up in England and played two years of NJCAA soccer before transferring to NAIA Oklahoma Panhandle State University where he was a two-year starting defenseman.  
 
The Schedule
 
Jamestown's 15-game schedule will kick off on Thursday, August 27 against former conference opponent, Morningside. The Jimmies have three games against NAIA colleges, and 12 versus NCAA D-II teams, which six matchups against GNAC teams.  
 
"We have a tough non-conference schedule before getting into GNAC play," said Gilfert. "Getting the wins early will carry us through the toughest part of the season which will be all six of our GNAC conference opponents starting with Northwest Nazarene on September 26th."
 
After their season opener against Morningside, the Jimmies will host South Dakota Mines (8/31) and then head on the road to play a couple more Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference opponents, Colorado Mesa University (9/3) and Westminster University (9/5).
 
Jamestown will then head east to play contests at St. Cloud State University (9/9) and Northern Michigan University (9/12).
 
The next Saturday will be UJ's final home game as well as Senior Day as they host Dakota Wesleyan (9/19).
 
The remainder of the schedule consists mostly of GNAC teams, including the subsequent Saturday where they will play at Northwest Nazarene University (9/26). Following a game at Briar Cliff University (9/30), Jamestown heads back to the Pacific Northwest to play Saint Martin's University (10/3), Simon Fraser University (10/10), and Western Oregon University (10/17).
 
Three more games remain on the docket as Jamestown's road gauntlet continues. UJ will take on Upper Iowa University (10/21) and then conclude the season against the final two GNAC colleges, Western Washington University (10/24) and Seattle Pacific University (10/31).  
 
Be sure to follow along with the Jimmies season, and stay on top of all the latest news regarding Jimmie men's soccer by visiting jimmiepride.com