Pirates Prepare to Open Home Slate Against Iona

SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. – After splitting the season-opening road trip, the Seton Hall men's soccer team (1-1-0) will return to South Orange for their home opener against the Iona Gaels (1-0-0) on Thursday, August 27.

Match time is scheduled for 4 p.m. and will be broadcast live on ESPN+.

LAST TIME OUT

To wrap up their season-opening road trip, the Pirates took on the Campbell Camels for the first time in program history at Koskinen Stadium in Durham, North Carolina.
After only 21 minutes, the Pirates took a 2-0 lead off a Mikkel Lejbowicz brace. The Camels pulled one back before halftime to make it a 2-1 game at the break. Despite a slow start to the second half, it took until the 77th minute for the Pirates to break the match's 50-minute scoring drought. Sammy Sansone was the beneficiary of a Nico Rubio cross, sneaking the ball past the keeper to put The Hall in front 3-1. While Campbell notched one more goal, The Hall's defense held strong to secure a 3-2 win as time expired.

SCOUTING IONA

Iona heads to South Orange with a 1-0-0 record after defeating Monmouth 4-1 to open the season.
In his first season of collegiate soccer, Ignacio Manzanares notched a brace with 32nd and 78th-minute goals. Alongside Manzanares, Francesco Borla compiled a pair of assists.
Despite facing 18 shots in the opener, the Gaels' netminder Josh Bells allowed only one goal and made six saves.

SERIES HISTORY

The Pirates are 3-1-0 all-time against the Gaels, with the first matchup coming in 1982.
The last matchup between the two programs came in 1987, a duel which saw The Hall claim a 3-1 win.

PRESEASON HONORS

After earning both All-BIG EAST Second Team and United Soccer Coaches All-East Region Second Team honors in 2025, forward Mikkel Lejbowicz and midfielder Til Kauschke have collected multiple preseason honors. Lejbowicz was named to the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team and the MAC Hermann Trophy Forwards to Watch list. Kauschke, meanwhile, made the Midfielders to Watch list, was named Preseason All-BIG EAST and was named the Preseason BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year.