The Basics
Game 1
Oral Roberts (0-0-0, 0-0-0) vs. UC Riverside (0-0-0, 0-0-0)
Date/Time: Thursday, August 20 / 7:00 PM
TV/Video: Summit League Network
Live Stats: ORU Athletics
Location: Case Soccer Complex (Tulsa, Okla.)
 
TULSA, Okla. – The Oral Roberts men's soccer program opens its 2026 regular season at home Thursday, taking on UC Riverside at 7 p.m. at the Case Soccer Complex.
 
Fans can watch live on the Summit League Network or follow @ORUMSoccer on X for updates and information.
 
Quick Hits 

• Oral Roberts enters the season picked fourth in the 2026 Summit League preseason coaches' poll with 10 points, as Kansas City was tabbed the favorite. Sophomores Jeff Mesidor and Siem Tegbaru earned Players to Watch recognition.
• The Golden Eagles are coming off a 2025 season that saw them finish 4-10-3 overall and 1-3-2 in Summit League play, advancing to the Summit League Championship Semifinals before falling at top-seeded Denver, 4-1.
• ORU returns 13 players from last season's squad and welcomes 15 newcomers to the roster.
• Zak Ford and Jeff Mesidor stand out among the Golden Eagle returners, combining for over 1600 of the 3600 minutes returned.
• Head coach Ryan Bush enters his 14th season at the helm, building a 101-85-30 career record, all at ORU.
• Bush's staff features two offseason promotions, as Sergio Romero and Edgardo Mira both move into full-time assistant coach roles. Mira will serve as an Assistant Coach and Sports Performance Coach. Former Golden Eagle goalkeeper Joao Mesquita returns to the program as a graduate assistant, while John Woodhead enters his fourth season as an assistant coach and Xander Quiroga returns as a volunteer assistant.
• Thursday's match marks the second all-time meeting between ORU and UC Riverside. The Highlanders won the programs' only previous matchup, 3-1, in 2008 in Las Vegas, Nev.

 
Opponent Information

• UC Riverside enters the 2026 season under 14th-year head coach Tim Cupello. Cupello has built a 75-112-38 career record, all at UCR.
• The Highlanders finished the 2025 season 4-9-4 overall and 2-6-1 in Big West play.
• UCR is transitioning from the Big West to the Pac-12 for the 2026 season. After opening in Oklahoma against Oral Roberts and Tulsa, the Highlanders travel to Grand Canyon before opening their home slate against Life Pacific on September 2. UCR will open conference play at the preseason #19 Oregon State on October 3.

 
For the latest information on ORU men's soccer, follow @ORUMSOC on X or go to www.ORUAthletics.com.
 
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