Ohlone Men’s Soccer Aims Higher in 2026 After Breakthrough Season
After two seasons defined by sharp contrasts — one marked by rebuilding, the next by resurgence — the Ohlone College Men's Soccer program enters 2026 with renewed confidence and a sense of forward momentum. What was once a team searching for identity is now one steadily constructing a foundation for long-term competitiveness.
The 2024 season had been a difficult one, finishing 1–16–3 overall and winless in conference play. It was a year spent learning hard lessons, adjusting to new systems, and laying the groundwork for the future. The Renegades lacked consistency, depth, and experience, and the results reflected that. But the struggles of that season proved to be a catalyst.
In 2025, the program responded with one of the most dramatic single-season improvements in the region. Ohlone finished 8–12–1, highlighted by a remarkable 7–0–1 non-conference run that signaled a new level of competitiveness. While conference success still lagged behind — the team earned just one conference win — the Renegades showed clear structure, effort, and tactical cohesion. Most importantly, they showed belief.
Head Coach Eric Silveira, who has guided the team over the last two seasons, emphasized the importance of the progress made.
"We took a major step forward this season. Going into Fall 2026, the plan is to build off of that…"
— Coach Eric Silveira
And for Ohlone, 2026 represents exactly that: a chance to turn progress into consistency.
The biggest storyline entering the new season revolves around whether the Renegades can translate their non-conference success into stronger results within the Coast Conference — long considered one of the most competitive regions in California community college soccer. While Ohlone performed impressively outside conference play in 2025, facing Coast Conference powerhouses like Hartnell, Evergreen, and West Valley exposed the remaining gaps in consistency and execution.
Closing those gaps is the next major step.
With a likely core of returning contributors — many of whom played significant roles in 2025 despite being underclassmen — the Renegades bring something into 2026 they haven't possessed in years: continuity. The challenge is no longer whether Ohlone can win games, but whether they can win the right games — specifically, those within conference play. The Renegades aim to climb out of the bottom tier and into a middle-table position, showing they are no longer a rebuilding team but one emerging into true competition.
As the 2026 campaign approaches, Ohlone appears poised for another step forward. The program has direction, returning talent, and a coach determined to keep the upward trend alive.