The 2026 Salisbury University men soccer team will emphasize daily improvement after finishing 2025 with a 9-6-5 record and reaching the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference final. Head coach Zack MacDougall, entering his fifth season, said the Sea Gulls will focus on steady progress rather than looking too far ahead.
We want to focus on the day to day and stack wins by focusing on ourselves and getting better. If we do that, we should be positioned to get back to making a deep run.
Building on 2025 Conference Success
The Sea Gulls defeated Warren Wilson, 3-2, and Mary Washington, 2-0, in the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference Tournament to reach their first conference final since 2015. They also recorded regular-season victories over No. 24 Carnegie Mellon, Messiah, and Johns Hopkins during a 6-2-0 stretch from Sept. 13 through Oct. 8, 2025.
Salisbury returns its top three goal scorers and six of its top seven point scorers from the 2025 season. Nine of the teams top 10 leaders in minutes also return, as do four All-C2C honorees: David Brunetti, Dale Gordon, Nicolas Chinchilla, and Jack Schwarz.
The team features 12 seniors. Captains Liam Pierce, Jack Schwarz, Tanner Calzado, and Martin Parrish will lead the group as Salisbury pursues another deep postseason run.
David Brunetti Leads Returning Scorers
David Brunetti led the team with eight goals in 20 appearances during the 2025 season. He earned All-Region Second Team, C2C Rookie of the Year, and All-C2C First Team honors. Captain Liam Pierce contributed five goals and two assists in 20 games, ranking second on the team with 12 points. Dale Gordon started 54 consecutive games, led the team with five assists, and converted two penalty kicks during the season.
Other key contributors include Noah Blankensop, who recorded three goals and four assists and was named C2C Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 15, 2025. Tanner Calzado added one goal and two assists in 20 games, and Connor Pyles scored a game-winning goal in the 90th minute against Rutgers-Camden among his 17 appearances.
Aaron Glikin recorded two goals and one assist in 17 appearances. Jack Schwarz has accumulated 4,008 career minutes in 47 appearances, while Nicolas Chinchilla was third on the team with 1,270 minutes in 2025.
Experience Returns on Defense and in Goal
Salisbury also brings back experience on defense and in goal. Michelangelo Parravano started 15 of 20 contests and scored the game-winning goal against Johns Hopkins. Goalkeeper Nate Jones posted a 6-4-3 record with 45 saves and three shutouts in 14 games. Clif Nehman went 2-2-2 with 20 saves, a .769 save percentage, and one shutout in five starts. Will Noble made one start and recorded a shutout.
Gavin Miller returns after earning All-Region Second Team, All-C2C Second Team, and College Sports Communicators NCAA Division III Academic All-District honors. Dale Gordon also received All-Region Fourth Team, All-C2C Second Team, and Academic All-District recognition.
2026 Season Opens in Chestertown
Salisbury will start the 2026 season against Washington (Md.) in Chestertown, followed by hosting the Elmer Lord Memorial Tournament against Eastern Mennonite and Albertus Magnus. The 2026 schedule includes 18 games, with seven contests at the Gerry DiBartolo Sea Gull Soccer Complex. Further dates and start times have not been announced.
Maryland Sports Blog Take
Salisbury enters 2026 with a strong returning foundation. Brunettis team-leading goal total, Pierces point production, Gordons experience, and the return of nine of the top 10 leaders in minutes give MacDougall an experienced group. The challenge will be converting that continuity into another deep Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference Tournament run. MacDougalls emphasis on daily improvement gives the Sea Gulls a clear approach as they begin the 2026 season.
Source: Original report
