The Howard Community College men’s soccer team will open the 2026 season ranked No. 11 in the NJCAA Division II National Poll. It is the highest preseason ranking for the Dragons since they joined Division II soccer in 2020.
Howard Community College finished the 2025 season with a 15-2-1 record and ranked No. 14 nationally at the end of the season. The Dragons were the No. 1 seed in Region 20 but lost in the regional championship game.
Howard Community College builds on 2025 season
Rob Ryerson is entering his third year as Howard Community College’s head coach. The Dragons have gone 23-9-2 over the last two seasons, earned a top-four seed in Region 20 in both years and opened both the 2024 and 2025 seasons with six-game winning streaks.
Howard Community College returns seven starters from the 2025 team, including Yeabsira Tesfaye. Tesfaye led the team in scoring and was named an All-American after scoring 13 goals, while Kiar Sani added 11 goals.
Jonathan Sanchez also returns as the Dragons’ starting goalkeeper after recording 11 clean sheets in 2025. Howard Community College will look to build on a season that ended with a 15-2-1 record and a berth in the Region 20 championship game.
Dragons open season against ranked opponents
Howard Community College will begin the 2026 season at an invitational in Indianapolis. The Dragons will face Schoolcraft College on Friday, Aug. 21, at 4 p.m.; Schoolcraft enters the season ranked No. 15 after finishing 2025 with a 14-2 record.
Howard Community College will then play Northeast Community College on Sunday, Aug. 23, at noon. Northeast is ranked No. 5 in the NJCAA Division II poll after finishing last season with a 13-2-1 record and reaching the national tournament with an at-large bid.
Maryland Sports Blog Take
Howard Community College enters 2026 with its highest preseason national ranking since joining NJCAA Division II soccer. The Dragons also return seven starters from a 15-2-1 team, including Tesfaye, Sani and Sanchez.
The Indianapolis invitational will provide an immediate test against two ranked opponents. Schoolcraft College is ranked No. 15 and Northeast Community College is ranked No. 5, giving Howard Community College a demanding opening weekend.
Read Howard Community College’s official season announcement.
Source: Original report
