Seton Hall’s fall sports enter 2026 from very different starting points. While men’s soccer looks to build on an NCAA Tournament appearance, other programs are looking to turn difficult 2025 campaigns into stronger seasons.
Men’s and women’s soccer are already underway, while volleyball has begun its nonconference schedule and both cross country teams are preparing for their first meets. Each program enters the season with a mix of returning talent and new faces looking to make an impact.
Men’s Soccer
The men’s soccer team enters 2026 looking to build on a strong season that ended with an NCAA Tournament appearance.
The Pirates finished 2025 with a 7-4-8 overall record and went 3-1-4 in BIG EAST play. Despite missing the BIG EAST Championship after a 2-1 loss to UConn in the regular-season finale, the Pirates received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.
SHU hosted its first NCAA Tournament match since 2005 and advanced past Siena in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw. The Pirates’ season ended in the second round with a 1-0 loss to No. 11 Bryant.
One of the biggest returning names for the Pirates is junior forward Mikkel Lejbowicz. The Maryland transfer led SHU with seven goals and 15 points last season despite starting just eight of his 16 appearances.
Lejbowicz has already carried his production into 2026, scoring twice in SHU’s 3-2 win over Campbell on Aug. 23.
Graduate goalkeeper Devin Armstrong also brings experience to the roster, having previously played at NJIT.
The Pirates opened the season with a 2-1 loss at Duke before defeating Campbell, 3-2, and playing Iona to a scoreless draw.
One of the Pirates’ biggest early-season tests comes Sept. 4 when they face in-state rival Rutgers. BIG EAST play begins Sept. 18 when SHU travels to UConn, facing the same team that ended their conference tournament hopes last season.
Women’s Soccer
Women’s soccer enters the new season looking to make a splash after a difficult 2025 campaign.
The Pirates finished 3-10-5 overall and 0-9-1 in BIG EAST play last season. Their start to 2026, however, has already provided reason for optimism.
SHU opened the season with a 2-1 victory over FDU before defeating Drexel, 1-0, on Aug. 23.
Senior midfielder Gianna Angelillo enters the season as one of the Pirates’ veteran leaders. Angelillo was named one of this season’s team captains alongside Grace Lawler, Cassidy Brown and Brianna Azevedo.
Angelillo has already made an impact, recording a goal and an assist for three points in SHU’s season-opening victory over FDU and earning a spot on the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll.
SHU will play its final nonconference game at Hofstra on Sept. 17 before opening BIG EAST play Sept. 26 at DePaul. Four days later, the Pirates will host Butler in their BIG EAST home opener at Owen T. Carroll Field.
Women’s Volleyball
SHU volleyball enters 2026 looking to rebound from a difficult season. The Pirates finished 6-21 overall and 0-16 in BIG EAST play last year.
Senior Maddy Loiselle and sophomore Daria Safian headline the returning offensive options. Loiselle, a 6-foot-3 right side and outside hitter, appeared in 17 matches and 63 sets last season before an injury cut her year short. She finished with 105 kills and a .256 attack percentage, including a season-high 13 kills while hitting .611 against Coppin State.
Safian emerged as one of SHU’s top attackers during her freshman season, finishing second on the team with 213 kills while averaging 2.34 kills per set. She appeared in 25 matches and made 15 starts.
The Pirates open BIG EAST play on Sept. 23 at St. John’s before returning to Walsh Gymnasium on Sept. 25 to face defending BIG EAST champion Creighton in their conference home opener.
With Loiselle, Safian and other players returning, the Pirates will look to turn last season’s growing pains into improvement in 2026.
Men’s Cross Country
SHU’s men’s cross country enters 2026 looking to build on the program’s first Metropolitan Championship.
The Pirates won the nine-team Metropolitan Championship last October with 52 points, giving head coach and alumnus Jacob Simon his first victory with the program.
SHU later finished ninth at the BIG EAST Championships and 23rd at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional Championship.
Junior Aakash Arumugam is one of the runners to watch after a breakout sophomore campaign. He became SHU’s top finisher in four consecutive meets, including a second-place finish at the Metropolitan Championships with a time of 24:29.00.
That performance helped lead the Pirates to the Metropolitan title and earned Arumugam BIG EAST Male Athlete of the Week honors. He also led SHU at the BIG EAST Championships, finishing 37th overall with a time of 24:56.81.
Senior Joseph Butler also returns after becoming an important part of the lineup late last season. He competed in the final four races of 2025 and finished a season-best 19th at the Metropolitan Championships. He was also one of SHU’s top four finishers at both the BIG EAST Championships and NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional.
The Pirates begin their season at the Temple Invitational on Sept. 4. The BIG EAST Championship is Oct. 30, followed by the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional Championship on Nov. 13.
Women’s Cross Country
Women’s cross country enters its second season under Simon, looking to build on last year’s postseason finishes.
The Pirates placed ninth at the BIG EAST Championships and 24th at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional Championship in 2025. They will have to fill the shoes of Honey Strosnider, who led SHU at both postseason meets during her senior season..
Senior Paige Quigley is among the most notable returners. Quigley was SHU’s second finisher at the BIG EAST Championships last season, placing 59th overall, and again finished second among Pirates at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional Championship with a time of 22:07.70.
Quigley also tied Caitlin Fahy at 21:56.20 at the Paul Short Run, where the two finished 39th and 40th, respectively.
Senior Kayla Carrino is another key returner this season. She competed in every meet last season and recorded four top-75 finishes, highlighted by an 18th-place finish at the Metropolitan Championships.
The women will follow the same championship schedule as the men, with the BIG EAST Championship on Oct. 30 and the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional Championship on Nov. 13.
With championship experience returning across the roster, SHU will look to climb the BIG EAST standings and finish 2026 stronger than it did a season ago.
Jaden Highsmith is the head editor of The Setonian’s Sports section. He can be reached at jaden.highsmith@student.shu.edu.
