AZUSA, Calif. - Head Coach Dave Blomquist and the Azusa Pacific men's soccer team announced its 2026 schedule, featuring 19 total matches, including one exhibition, and 12 home contests at Cougar Soccer Complex.
The 2026 campaign marks a new era for the Cougars as Azusa Pacific begins its transition toward NCAA Division III and the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. While the division and conference landscape are changing, the program's standard remains centered on excellence, character, team culture and competitive soccer.
APU's schedule reflects that new chapter, with a strong Southern California footprint and a number of nearby opponents that will help build local rivalries. The Cougars will face Occidental twice and will also take on Caltech, Chapman, La Verne, Redlands, Whittier, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, Pomona-Pitzer and California Lutheran throughout the season.
2026 Azusa Pacific Men's Soccer Schedule
Home games in bold | All times Pacific
August
Saturday, August 22 – Westmont – Azusa, CA – 7:00 PM — Exhibition
September
Tuesday, September 1 – at Occidental – Los Angeles, CA – 7:00 PM
Friday, September 4 – Hope International – Azusa, CA – 7:30 PM
Monday, September 7 – Lewis & Clark (Ore.) – Azusa, CA – TBA
Wednesday, September 9 – Life Pacific – Azusa, CA – 7:00 PM
Wednesday, September 16 – Redlands – Azusa, CA – 7:00 PM
Saturday, September 19 – at Whittier – Whittier, CA – 7:00 PM
Tuesday, September 22 – Stanton – Azusa, CA – 7:00 PM
Wednesday, September 23 – at Caltech – Pasadena, CA – 4:00 PM
Saturday, September 26 – Occidental – Azusa, CA – 7:00 PM
Wednesday, September 30 – at Pomona-Pitzer – Claremont, CA – 7:00 PM
October
Saturday, October 3 – Chapman – Azusa, CA – 11:00 AM
Wednesday, October 7 – La Verne – Azusa, CA – 7:00 PM
Saturday, October 10 – at California Lutheran – Thousand Oaks, CA – 1:00 PM
Wednesday, October 14 – Claremont-Mudd-Scripps – Azusa, CA – 7:00 PM
Monday, October 19 – La Sierra – Azusa, CA – 5:00 PM
Thursday, October 22 – at Cal State San Marcos – San Marcos, CA – 3:00 PM
Wednesday, October 28 – Bethesda – Azusa, CA – 7:00 PM
Saturday, October 31 – at UC Santa Cruz – Santa Cruz, CA – TBA
"We are excited for the competition that this new chapter in APU athletics will bring," said Blomquist. "The 2026 schedule offers many great challenges with D3 opponents up and down the West Coast."
The Cougars open the year at home on August 22 with an exhibition against former PacWest opponent Westmont before beginning regular-season play on the road at Occidental on September 1. APU then returns to Cougar Soccer Complex for three straight home matches against Hope International, Lewis & Clark and Life Pacific.
Azusa Pacific continues its September schedule with a home matchup against Redlands on September 16, then travels to Whittier on September 19. The Cougars will then have a quick turnaround, hosting Stanton on September 22 before making the short trip to Pasadena to face Caltech on September 23.
The final week of September gives APU another look at local competition, as the Cougars host Occidental on September 26 before traveling to Claremont to take on Pomona-Pitzer on September 30.
October features another strong stretch of Southern California opponents. The Cougars will host Chapman on October 3 and La Verne on October 7 before traveling to Thousand Oaks to face California Lutheran on October 10. APU returns home on October 14 for a matchup with Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, one of the local opponents expected to become part of the program's growing rivalry landscape.
The Cougars close the regular season with three of their final five matches at home. APU will host La Sierra on October 19, travel to Cal State San Marcos for another Division II matchup on October 22, and return to Azusa for its home finale against Bethesda on October 28. The regular season concludes on October 31 with a road contest at UC Santa Cruz.
With a schedule built around local rivalries, regional opponents and a new competitive landscape, the Cougars will look to establish momentum in 2026 while continuing the program's tradition of excellence.
