QUINCY, Ill. – The Quincy University men's soccer team enters the 2026 season with a large roster, a sizable group of newcomers and a strong core of returning experience as the Hawks look to build upon their return to postseason play last fall.

Head coach Mike Carpenter enters his 15th season at the helm of the program with a 126-96-30 career record. Carpenter is joined by assistant coach Jacob Adams and graduate assistant Layne Helvey, who each enter their second season on the Quincy staff.

The Hawks will carry 48 players on the 2026 roster, including 24 returners, 18 freshmen and six transfers.

Despite welcoming 24 new players, Quincy returns a significant amount of experience from last season. The returning group accounted for 9,485 minutes of action in 2025, representing approximately 53 percent of the Hawks' total minutes played.

Quincy also returns 13 of its 25 goals from last season, good for 52 percent of the team's scoring production. Three of the Hawks' top four goal scorers are back, although QU will have to replace its leading scorer from a season ago, who finished with eight goals.

Proven Presence in Goal

One of the biggest pieces returning for Quincy is redshirt junior goalkeeper Jake Offerman, who established himself as one of the top keepers in the Great Lakes Valley Conference during his first full season in goal.

Offerman played every second of every match for the Hawks in 2025, allowing just 14 goals and posting a 0.78 goals-against average, which ranked second in the GLVC.

He recorded six shutouts, the third-most in the conference, while making 69 saves, second-most among GLVC goalkeepers. Offerman also led the conference and ranked 10th nationally with an .831 save percentage.

After handling every minute in goal a season ago, Offerman gives the Hawks an experienced and proven presence behind a defensive unit that will feature both familiar faces and new contributors.

Returning Offensive Production

While Quincy must replace its leading goal scorer from last season, the Hawks bring back several of their most productive attacking players.

Junior forward/midfielder Leo Cann enters his third season with the program after recording another productive campaign despite battling through injuries.

Cann appeared in 16 matches with 14 starts last season, totaling 944 minutes. He ranked second on the team with 36 shots and 15 shots on goal while scoring four goals and adding three assists for 11 points.

It marked his second consecutive four-goal season and second straight year with double-digit points. With eight goals through his first two collegiate seasons, Cann enters 2026 as one of the leading candidates to become the Hawks' primary attacking option.

Senior midfielder/forward Josh Nwosu also returns after finishing second on the team in goals last season.

Nwosu appeared in all 18 matches and made 14 starts during his junior campaign, totaling 1,120 minutes. He scored five goals, added one assist and finished with 11 points while taking 29 shots and placing 11 on goal.

Now entering his fourth season with Quincy, Nwosu has accumulated more than 2,000 minutes of collegiate action and gives the Hawks another experienced attacking option capable of producing goals.

Junior forward Mathias Bringedal rounds out a returning trio that accounted for 13 goals last season.

A physical presence along the front line, Bringedal started all 18 matches as a sophomore and totaled 1,166 minutes. He finished second on the team with 12 points, scoring four goals while leading the Hawks with four assists.

With Cann, Nwosu and Bringedal all returning, Quincy brings back three players who have already shown the ability to consistently create and finish scoring opportunities at the collegiate level.

Experience Returns on the Back Line

Quincy also brings back several key pieces from a defensive unit that allowed just 0.78 goals per match and recorded six shutouts last season.

Senior defender/midfielder Ryan Myatt is the Hawks' most experienced returning defender based on last season's playing time.

Myatt started all 18 matches in 2025 and totaled 1,239 minutes, helping anchor the Quincy back line throughout the season. He took three shots and placed one on goal while providing a steady presence in front of Offerman.

Senior defender/midfielder Lucca Barbero also returns after making an immediate impact during his first season with the Hawks.

After spending two seasons at Lewis & Clark Community College, Barbero appeared in all 18 matches for Quincy and made 15 starts, totaling 1,211 minutes. His versatility allowed him to contribute both in the midfield and along the defensive line while bringing consistent energy to the Hawks' lineup.

Senior midfielder/defender Colin Imig could also see his role expand following the departure of two key defenders from last year's team.

Imig appeared in all 18 matches last season, making three starts and totaling 774 minutes primarily off the bench. He enters his fourth collegiate season having logged 1,930 career minutes, giving the Hawks another experienced option as they look to fill openings in the starting lineup.

Transfers Bring Additional Experience

Quincy added six transfers to the 2026 roster, several of whom arrive with significant collegiate experience and could immediately compete for playing time.

Junior midfielder Riley White joins the Hawks after two standout seasons at Georgia Military College and could provide another offensive weapon.

White started 12 matches as a freshman in 2024, scoring seven goals and adding three assists for 17 points on his way to earning GCAA All-Region honors.

He followed with a breakout sophomore campaign in 2025, starting all 19 matches while leading Georgia Military College with 13 goals, 14 assists and 40 points. White was named the GCAA Player of the Year and earned All-Region honors for the second consecutive season.

Senior midfielder Jose Perez brings three seasons of collegiate experience after spending two years at Pasadena City College and last season at Jessup University.

Perez started 14 of 15 matches as a freshman at Pasadena City College, finishing with one goal, four assists and six points. He followed with one goal and a team-high six assists across 24 appearances as a sophomore, earning All-South Coast Conference First Team honors while helping Pasadena qualify for the CCCAA SoCal Regionals.

During his junior season at Jessup, Perez appeared in 16 matches with 12 starts, recording one goal and two assists.

Junior midfielder Lucas Suarez and redshirt sophomore midfielder Sameed Ansari both join Quincy after spending the previous two seasons at Lake Erie College. Neither saw game action during their time with the Storm but will have an opportunity to compete for roles in the Hawks' midfield.

Sophomore forward/midfielder Marek Jesienouski arrives after spending his freshman season at Coe College. Jesienouski appeared in 17 matches with six starts, scoring two goals while taking 10 shots and placing nine on goal. One of his two goals served as a game-winner.

Redshirt sophomore midfielder Agner Marrero Torres rounds out the transfer class after spending last season at Gillette College. Marrero Torres appeared in 13 matches with 12 starts, totaling two goals, three assists and seven points.

With multiple transfers bringing previous collegiate starting experience, the group gives Carpenter and the Hawks additional options throughout the midfield and attack.

Large Freshman Class Joins the Program

Quincy will also welcome an 18-player freshman class that makes up more than one-third of the 2026 roster. The group features players from three different states, with the majority coming from Illinois and Missouri, along with three international newcomers.

With a 48-player roster and competition for playing time throughout the lineup, the freshman class will have several weeks of training and preseason competition to begin making its mark on the program.

While the Hawks return a strong core from last season, the size of the incoming class gives the coaching staff plenty of depth and an opportunity to identify young players capable of contributing immediately.

Season Ahead

Quincy has already begun preseason practice and have competed in multiple scrimmages before officially opening the 2026 campaign.

The Hawks begin the regular season on the road on Thursday, August 27, traveling to Kenosha, Wisconsin, to face Parkside at noon.

With Offerman returning in goal, experienced pieces back along the defensive line and three of last season's top four scorers returning to the attack, Quincy enters the season with a foundation of proven production despite nearly half of the roster consisting of newcomers.

For a full breakdown of the Hawks' 2026 schedule, click here.