CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – Campbellsville University men's soccer enters the 2026 season with a national championship standard to uphold and a returning core that helped the Tigers close 2025 on top of the NCCAA.
Campbellsville captured the 2025 NCCAA Division I Men's Soccer National Championship after winning the NCCAA Mid-East Regional Tournament. The Tigers finished the season 14-7, fueled by a postseason run that also brought several national and regional honors to the program.
Head coach
Dr. Drew Sin, who was named NCCAA National Coach of the Year and NCCAA Regional Coach of the Year, said the Tigers' focus entering the new year is on blending returning experience with a new group of student-athletes.
"We're fortunate to return a strong core of players who understand the standards and expectations of our program," Sin said. "What excites me most is the opportunity to blend that experience with a talented group of newcomers who bring different qualities and personalities to the team."
The Tigers return from a 2025 campaign in which they outscored opponents 44-27. Campbellsville averaged 2.10 goals per match and placed 145 of its 325 shots on goal.
In the NCCAA Championship Tournament, the team took its game to another level. They outscored their opponents 17-2 across five matches, holding three teams to no goals, including in the Championship match against Grace College, 2-0.
Mihlali Blesi led the attack with 14 goals, six assists, 34 points, and three game-winning goals. He earned NCCAA National Player of the Year, the Golden Ball Award, and First Team All-American honors after scoring five goals in the NCCAA tournament.
Campbellsville also returns championship experience throughout the lineup.
Malthe Schou, who was named NCCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player and a First Team All-American, anchored the Tigers in goal. Schou recorded 66 saves and a .733 save percentage in 2025.
Jon Magnusson and Fredik Nordal added Second Team All-American recognition, while Blesi, Schou, and
Malte Ekman were named to the NCCAA All-Tournament Team.
Sin said the preseason will be important as Campbellsville reconnects with returners, introduces newcomers, and begins preparing for a demanding schedule.
"My teams are built on togetherness, hard work, intensity, and a passion to improve every single day," Sin said. "Preseason gives us an opportunity to reconnect with our returners, welcome our new student-athletes, and begin building those relationships. We have a challenging schedule ahead of us, so these first few weeks are about establishing our standards, growing together, and becoming a better team every day."
The Tigers showed balance during the 2025 season, with nine players scoring multiple goals. Along with Blesi,
Izan Garcia Gancedo and
Harry Freeman each scored four goals, while
Malte Ekman,
Ruben Cooper,
Mark Horn, Jorge Zapata,
Alessandro Martinez, and
Mark Holton each added two.
Defensively, Campbellsville limited opponents to a .107 shot percentage and 1.29 goals per match. The Tigers also held opponents scoreless six times, including shutout wins over Saint Xavier, Boyce, Cumberland, Asbury, and Grace during the 2025 season.
As the Tigers prepare for 2026, Sin said the program's foundation remains rooted in growth, response, and leadership.
"We want to create an environment where challenges are welcomed as opportunities to learn and grow," Sin said. "We don't expect our players to be perfect, but we do expect them to respond well, compete for one another, and embrace opportunities to improve."
Campbellsville will open the new season aiming to build on one of the strongest finishes in program history, carrying forward the standard set by its national championship run while developing the next group of leaders within the program.
