Men’s Soccer Opens the 2026 Season on the Road Against JMU Thursday

Thursday, August 20, 2026
Rider Broncs (0-0-0, 0-0-0 Metro) at James Madison (0-0-0, 0-0-0 SBC)
Harrisonburg, VA | Sentara Park | 6:00 PM
WATCH (ESPN+) | LIVE STATS

MATCH FACTS

Rider men's soccer opens their 2026 campaign with an away match in Harrisonburg, Virginia against JMU on Thursday, August 20 with kickoff at Sentara Park slatted for 6:00 p.m.
Thursday will play host to the first meeting between the Broncs and the Dukes in more than a decade and a half, last having faced off against each other on September 4, 2010. That match in Harrisonburg ended in a 4-1 score line in favor of JMU.
The Broncs faced off against JMU a year earlier in 2009, falling by a score of 3-0, rounding out their all-time series.
JMU went 1-10-5 during the 2025 season, recording a winless Sun Belt Conference campaign with a record of 0-6-3. The Dukes lone win in 2025 came against Iona, with the home side defeating the Gaels 2-0 in Harrisonburg on September 23.
The Metro Conference preseason coaches' poll slotted the Broncs in 13^th place for the 2026 season.
Rider recorded a record of 2-11-4 during the 2025 campaign while notching a record of 1-6-3 in the MAAC. Their duo of wins came in the form of a 3-0 victory against George Washington in Lawrenceville on September 1 and 2-0 win against Mount St. Mary's in Emmitsburg on November 5.
Among the Broncs top returners are Bobby Lucien, Patryk Rojek, Ryan Vaubel, and Drew Heil.
Marius Helias returns in goal for the Broncs in 2026 having logged 10 starts in goal for Rider in 2025. Helias logged a save percentage of .738 during last campaign, recording 59 saves while allowing 21 goals.
The trio of Helias, Vaubel, and Michael Holliday have been elected as team captains for the duration of the 2026 season.
Head Coach Chad Duernberger begins his fourth year at the helm of men's soccer in 2026, having won the 2024 MAAC Regular Season Title and the 2023 MAAC Championship while playing Vermont during that year's NCAA Tournament First Round.

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Players Mentioned

#17 Patryk Rojek: F; 6' 0"; Junior

#11 Drew Heil: M; 5' 10"; Freshman

#2 Ryan Vaubel: D; 5' 10"; Junior

#4 Bobby Lucien: D/M; 6' 2"; Freshman

#32 Marius Helias: GK; 6' 3"; Graduate Student

#5 Michael Holliday: D; 6' 2"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#17 Patryk Rojek
: 6' 0"; Junior
: F

#11 Drew Heil
: 5' 10"; Freshman
: M

#2 Ryan Vaubel
: 5' 10"; Junior
: D

#4 Bobby Lucien
: 6' 2"; Freshman
: D/M

#32 Marius Helias
: 6' 3"; Graduate Student
: GK

#5 Michael Holliday
: 6' 2"; Senior
: D