CLAREMORE, Okla. – No. 6 Hillcat men's soccer is set to open the 2026 season this weekend at home against RV Maryville and RV McKendree. The Hillcats return all but one of their nine all-conference selections from last season and received their highest preseason ranking in program history.
 
Rogers State will open the season by hosting four games at Soldier Field. The first game on Thursday features Southern Nazarene against Maryville, followed by RSU's season opener against McKendree at 7:30 p.m. On Saturday, the Crimson Storm and Bearcats will kick off the day at noon, followed by the Saints and Hillcats at 2:30 p.m.
 
All games will be broadcast on The MIAA Network as premium events, and tickets will be available both online and at the gate (card only).

LOOKING TO REPEAT HISTORY
Rogers State men's soccer had its best season in program history under first-year head coach Jake Simpson in 2025, finishing with a record of 14-4-4 (8-2-2 GAC/MIAA) and earning its second NCAA Tournament appearance.
 
Heading into year two, Simpson remarked, "We have two team cultures: one on the field and one off the field. It's essential to emphasize both. We aim for a high level of success, competing to win every single game. That's the standard here; it's what we expect.
 
I want the players to understand that soccer is what they do, not who they are. They shouldn't play with the pressure of 'What if we lose?' As a coach, I expect 100% from everyone. If we give our all and don't get the desired result, I can't consider it a loss; sometimes the other team is simply better. However, I know what we have in the locker room, and I fully expect us to approach every game believing that if we play to our capabilities, we can win every time."
 
RSU started the season strong, going 6-0-2 and reaching as high as eighth in the national poll. The Hillcats suffered just two regular-season losses, both to Fort Hays State, and finished second in the league standings, securing the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament.
 
As a result of their successful regular season, nine players earned All-GAC/MIAA honors. Alex Laing made history as the first player in program history to be named GAC/MIAA Defensive Player of the Year, also earning All-GAC/MIAA First Team honors. Artur Carvalho and Louis Bassett joined him on the first team, while Brandon O'Rourke,  Jaxon Kendall, Oliver Hemlin, Hayden Parker, Ashton Medina, and Tom Dixon received honorable mention recognition.
 
The postseason began with a memorable match against Newman, ending in a 2-2 penalty-kick victory. Alex Fletcher and Grayson Horsley each scored, while Kendall was phenomenal in PKs, allowing no goals.
 
The Hillcats faced fourth-ranked Fort Hays State in the championship but fell short, as the Tigers scored two second-half goals to claim the title.
 
History continued for No. 13 RSU, which secured its spot in the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season and earned the right to host the first-ever tournament games at Soldier after being awarded the No. 2 seed. Both games were thrilling, with the Hillcats edging No. 7 seed Cedarville and No. 3 seed with second-half goals from Medina, complemented by shutouts in goal from Kendall, who finished the season as the program's leader in single-season wins (14), shutouts (12), games played and started (23), and minutes played (2,090).
 
The season came to an end against top-seed FHSU in the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals in Hays, Kansas.
 
Bassett (3rd Team by the United Soccer Coaches) and Laing (2nd Team by the D2CCA) were named All-Americans. Additionally, Carvalho (First Team), Hemlin (Second Team), Kendall (Second Team), and O'Rourke (First Team) were tabbed All-Region.
 
Kendall (3rd Team) and O'Rourke (2nd Team) led the way with academic honors after being named CSC Academic All-Americans. Alex Fletcher, Hemlin, Grayson Horsley, and Sam Ryder were also recognized as CSC Academic All-District.
 
On the conference level, 14 players were named to the GAC Academic Honor Roll, and O'Rourke earned the prestigious GAC/MIAA Elite Scholar Student-Athlete Award.

MEET COACH SIMPSON
Jake Simpson wrapped up his first season as the RSU men's soccer head coach in 2025.
 
Simpson's first season at the helm was historic for the Hillcats. They finished with an impressive 14-4-5 record (8-2-2 GAC/MIAA), securing second place in both the conference regular season standings and the conference tournament. Additionally, they earned their second consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.
 
In 2025, for the first time in program history, Rogers State hosted NCAA Tournament games at Soldier Field after earning the No. 2 seed in Super Region 3. The Hillcats celebrated the milestone with two 1-0 victories over No. 17 Cedarville and No. 15 Lincoln, advancing to the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals for their best finish in program history.
 
Alex Laing was named a D2CCA Second Team All-American, the GAC/MIAA Defensive Player of the Year, and an All-GAC/MIAA First Team selection. Louis Bassett received a USC All-American Third Team nod and joined Laing and Artur Carvalho on the All-GAC/MIAA First Team. Overall, the Hillcats garnered nine all-conference and nine all-region honors in 2025, while Brandon O'Rouke and Jaxon Kendall were recognized as CSC Academic All-Americans, a distinction also earned by Simpson during his time as a student-athlete at RSU.
 
Simpson took over for legendary head coach Derek Larkin, who stepped away from coaching and into an administrative role for the Hillcats at the end of the 2024 season. Simpson is no stranger to the men's soccer program as he played a large role in building it to its current state as a player and most recently as associate head coach.
 
In 2024, the Cambridge, England native helped guide RSU to their best season in program history, making it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time. The Hillcats finished the season with a 9-5-7 record and won their second GAC/MIAA Regular Season title with three players picking up individual awards from the conference.
 
Simpson came home to the Hill after spending the 2023 season as an assistant coach at Oklahoma Christian. While in Oklahoma City, he helped guide the Eagles to its second-straight appearance in the Lone Star Conference Tournament semifinals. He also coached a First Team All-South Central Region and LSC Freshman of the Year, among six other All-LSC selections.
 
In his first three seasons on the Hillcat bench, he helped the Hillcats to three-straight appearances in the GAC/MIAA Tournament, including the GAC/MIAA Regular Season and Tournament Championships during the Spring 2021 season, climbing as high as No. 9 in the USC Coaches Poll during the Fall 2021 season.
 
Simpson began his coaching career as an assistant at Rogers State in 2020. He joined the staff after wrapping up his playing career with one of the best individual seasons Rogers State athletics has ever seen.
 
In 2019, Simpson was recognized on the national scale several times. The honors included United Soccer Coaches All-America Third Team, CoSIDA Academic All-America Second Team, CoSIDA Academic All-District Team, United Soccer Coaches All-Central Region First Team and D2CCA All-Central Region First Team.
 
Simpson broke two school records in his senior season. He put 37 shots on goal and finished with 36 points for the season, averaging 1.8 points per game.
 
Simpson also received several conference honors, including All-GAC/MIAA First Team, GAC/MIAA All-Tournament Team, GAC/MIAA Distinguished Scholar Student-Athlete, and Three-time GAC/MIAA Offensive Player of the Week.
 
Simpson's past honors include All-Heartland Conference Third Team, Selected CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team, United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-West Region honors in 2017, and in 2016 he was named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) NCAA Division II Men's All-South Central Region Second Team and All-Heartland Conference First Team.
 
Simpson played in 59 games for the Hillcats and started in 57 games. He would total 4,729 minutes of playing time on the pitch. He scored 27 goals in his career on the Hill, with 14 of those goals coming in his final season.
 
Simpson graduated from Rogers State in 2019 with a Bachelor's Degree in Sports Management with a concentration in Fitness.
 
He and his wife, Alex, a former standout on the women's soccer team, live in Owasso, Okla., with their daughter, Savannah, and son, Harrison. 


PRESEASON REPORT
"Overall, things have been going well in practices and our preseason games," Simpson said. "We've been focusing on the new players we've brought in since we already know what our returning players can do. Our main goal has been to identify who can complement our returning group and make a significant impact."

 
The Hillcats quickly resumed activities after summer break, playing exhibition games against Oklahoma Wesleyan, Southwestern Christian, and defending NCAA Division II National Champion No. 1 Midwestern State.
 
NON-CONFERENCE SLATE
When asked about the non-conference schedule, Simpson said, "Each team poses different challenges and styles, which is what you want going into conference play.
 
McKendree, Maryville, and Rockhurst were all national tournament teams last season. Then you've got UT Tyler, which is always a playoff team in the highly competitive Lone Star Conference. Their field is tough; it'll be hot, dry, and sticky.
 
Then we go to Oklahoma Christian, where I used to coach and have a good relationship. We've had players transfer there, so that's going to be an emotional game. St. Mary's won the Lone Star two years ago; they had a down year last year, but they were arguably our hardest game of the non-conference last year."
 
The Hillcats' non-conference schedule features six matches, beginning with two at Soldier Field. Rogers State will face RV McKendree on Aug. 27 at 7:30 p.m. and RV Maryville on Aug. 29 at 2:30 p.m. Additional home games include in-state rival Oklahoma Christian on Sept. 9 and St. Mary's on Sept. 12.
 
Rogers State opened the 2025 season against then-No. 4 McKendree, battling to a 1-1 draw in Illinois. Two days later, Coach Simpson secured his first career victory as RSU defeated Maryville, 1-0, in Missouri. The Hillcats also beat Oklahoma Christian 1-0 in Edmond and drew with then-No. 17 St. Mary's, 1-1, in Wichita Falls, Texas.
 
The Hillcats will also travel for non-conference matches against No. 13 Rockhurst on Sept. 2 in Kansas City, Missouri, and UT Tyler on Sept. 5 in Tyler, Texas. Last season, Rogers State beat both teams 1-0 in Claremore.

CONFERENCE OUTLOOK
The Hillcats were predicted to finish second in the GAC/MIAA Preseason Coaches' Poll, earning 33 points and three first-place votes, just trailing No. 3 Fort Hays State by one point.
 
Rogers State (14-4-5, 8-2-2 GAC/MIAA) secured second place in both the GAC/MIAA regular season and tournament standings, with their only conference losses coming against Fort Hays State.
 
"My mindset is always that we should win the conference," Simpson commented about the GAC/MIAA Conference. "The No. 2 ranking is fair; we lost four games last year, all to Hays. But that's a game we desperately want back. We know their quality and hopefully we'll have the chance to play them more than twice if we progress to the postseason. We hope to get a couple of wins against them."
 
They will kick off league play in Kansas, facing Fort Hays State on Sept. 17 and Newman on Sept. 19. Additional conference road games will include matchups against Ouachita Baptist on Oct. 3, Southern Nazarene on Oct. 8, Northeastern State on Oct. 24, and Harding on Oct. 29.
 
At home, the Cats will begin conference play on Sept. 26 against rival Northeastern State at 7 p.m., followed by a game against Harding on Oct. 1 at 7 p.m. Rogers State will host Fort Hays during Homecoming Weekend on Oct. 10, Newman on Oct. 15, and Southern Nazarene on Oct. 22. The home league schedule will wrap up on Senior and Alumni Day on Halloween against Ouachita Baptist at 1 p.m.
 
Simpson added, "My assistant (Jason Rogers) and I spoke about it last year. The level of the Newman team last year was arguably as high as the teams we faced in the nationals. They gave us a tough game every time; they're well-coached."
 
Regarding rivalries, he said, "I think NSU is a great rival. That game is always emotional. They're always in it; they never roll over. SNU has had some incredible years. They were slightly down last year, but if they're back to what they were, it'll be a challenging game."
 
The 2026 GAC/MIAA Tournament is scheduled for Nov. 6-8, with the times, locations, and matchups to be determined based on regular season outcomes.


MEET THE FORWARDS
The Hillcats will roster 10 forward attackers this season, with six returners and four newcomers.
 
Louis Bassett returns to the Hill for his junior year after a standout sophomore campaign. The Leicester, England, native earned numerous accolades, including USC All-America Third Team, USC All-Central Region First Team, D2CCA All-Central Region Second Team, All-GAC/MIAA First Team, and two GAC/MIAA Offensive Player of the Week honors. He played in 21 games, starting 20, and logged 1,558 minutes on the pitch. Bassett finished the season with 12 points, scoring three goals and providing six assists.
 
"Louis means so much to the team," Simpson said about Bassett. "I know he's a little banged up, but he's an all-conference player and an All-American coming back. He garners respect from everyone he plays against and is just an absolute dog, so I hope he can get fit."
 
Brandon O'Rourke returns to RSU for his third and final year representing the Red and Navy. The Bartlesville native appeared in 23 matches with 19 starts last season. He was named a USC All-Central Region First Team and an All-GAC/MIAA honoree after finishing the season with 14 total points (5 goals, 4 assists). He was also a CSC Academic All-America Second Team selection and earned the prestigious GAC/MIAA Elite Scholar Student-Athlete Award after achieving a perfect 4.0 GPA.
 
"O'Rourke is the kind of guy who works hard; he's always putting in extra effort," Simpson commented about the senior. "Our biggest saying in the locker room is that how you do something is how you do everything. He exemplifies that. In the classroom, he's elite, and on the pitch, he's elite. I don't think that's a coincidence. He works hard at everything he does, and I think he's been a strong player in the preseason."
 
Lawson Ford looks to make an impact in his senior campaign. The Edmond native started in nine of his 18 appearances last season for the Hillcats, recording three assists in 719 minutes.
 
Harkaran Sahota, a sophomore from Ontario, Canada, gained valuable experience last season by tallying four points with one goal and two assists in two starts.
 
Additionally, Carson Copenhaver and Jamie Kennedy return to the attacking third after combining for 12 appearances last season. Copenhaver, a Bixby native, has been with the program for four years and enters his senior season in 2025.
 
The Hillcats will welcome junior transfers Matthew Reed (Jones CC) and Jake Mangan (Coastal Bend), as well as freshmen Aaron Singh (San Jose, Calif.) and Nick Reichard (Tulsa, Okla.).
 

MEET THE MIDFIELDERS
Ten players, including five returnees and five freshmen, will look to control the Hillcats' midfield.
 
Oliver Hemlin returns after a fantastic sophomore season and will serve as a vice captain. The junior from Tring, England, earned recognition as a D2CCA All-Central Region Second Team selection, an All-GAC/MIAA Second Team member, and was named to the CSC Academic All-District and GAC/MIAA Academic Honor Roll. Hemlin appeared in 23 games with 16 starts, logging a total of 1,321 minutes for the Hillcats. He finished the season with 10 points, scoring four goals and adding two assists.
 
"If we have someone we want to develop professionally or help understand our culture better, we tell them to do exactly what Ollie does—just follow him around," Simpson said about Hemlin. "He exemplifies everything we want an athlete to be; he's very professional."
 
Hayden Parker will also serve as a vice captain this season. The sophomore from Owasso appeared in 20 matches last year with 17 starts. He finished with a pair of goals and fired off 18 shots (seven on goal) in 2025. His younger brother, Ethan Parker, will also be vying for time in the midfield this season.
 
"Hayden joined the team as a walk-on after playing at Owasso, and he's truly a diamond in the rough. "He went from starting zero games his freshman year to 19 his sophomore year," Simpson commented on Parker. "He's constantly asking what he can do better. He is improving every single day, and he's special."
 
Ashton Medina aims to carry his late-season momentum from 2025 into the new season. The junior from Frisco, Texas, appeared in 19 matches with 12 starts last year. He scored four goals, including two game-winners in the NCAA Tournament, and added three assists for a total of 11 points.
 
"We are really excited to have Medina back this season," Simpson said about the junior. "He scored both goals in the NCAA tournament at Soldier Field—both spectacular moments—and he really stepped up when we needed him."
 
Grayson Horsley returns for his senior year on the Hill. The Owasso native was named CSC Academic All-District and GAC/MIAA Academic All-District in 2025. He appeared in 23 games, starting eight, and logged 915 total minutes. He finished the season with eight points, scoring four goals.
 
Alexander Frost aims to enhance the midfield in his sophomore campaign. The St. Helens, United Kingdom, native appeared in nine matches for the Hillcats during his freshman season, finishing with two points after scoring his first career goal against Harding.
 
Also joining the midfield this season are freshman Mario Lopez Ayuso (Avila, Spain), Noah West (Wellington, New Zealand), Javier Magnalles (Broken Arrow, Okla.) and Liam Wesenhagen (Zoetermeer, Netherlands).
 
MEET THE DEFENDERS
Rogers State will roster 14 defenders this season, consisting of eight returners, four freshmen and two freshmen.
 
Alex Laing aims to replicate a historic season on the defensive side. The team captain from London, England, was named to the D2CCA All-America Second Team, making him the third player in Hillcat history to receive this honor, joining Marcos Vasallo (2024) and Dillion Dean (2019). Despite battling injuries, he participated in 18 matches, starting 15, and logged a total of 1,158 minutes on the field. He scored a goal against Southern Nazarene and recorded an assist during a home game against the Crimson Storm. Laing was also named to both the D2CCA First Team and the United Soccer Coaches First Team. Additionally, he earned the GAC/MIAA Defensive Player of the Year award, was selected for the All-GAC/MIAA First Team, and was recognized as the GAC/MIAA Defensive Player of the Week.
 
"Lang is obviously special, special, special. The conference knows it; the country knows it now. He's an All-American," Simpson praised the senior defender. "He's been here five years and was a walk-on his first year. He embodies everything culturally that you want in the program and works hard. He has an unbelievable attitude and is an exceptional soccer player. He was named captain of the team this year for a reason. He exemplifies everything you want in a player as a coach."
 
Tom Dixon aims to build on a strong season with the Hillcats in his senior campaign. Last season, the Wolverhampton, England, native earned All-GAC/MIAA Honorable Mention and was named to the GAC/MIAA All-Tournament Team as well as the MIAA Newcomer Academic Honor Roll. He appeared in 22 games, making 10 starts, and finished the season with three points, scoring a goal against Harding and providing an assist against Southern Nazarene. Dixon logged 1,163 minutes on the field, recording a season-high 99 minutes in the GAC/MIAA Tournament semifinal victory against Newman.
 
"Tom is a tough, hard-nosed player who brings a lot to the team, especially in the air," Simpson said about the senior. "I strongly believe that he will be a key guy on defense for us this season."
 
Alex Fletcher is an important defensive anchor from last season. In 2025, the Pontefract, England, native earned recognition as a CSC Academic All-District selection, made the GAC/MIAA Academic Honor Roll, and was named to the GAC/MIAA All-Tournament team. He appeared in 21 games, starting 19, and finished the season with seven points from two goals and three assists. He logged 1,576 minutes on the pitch, including 110 minutes in the GAC/MIAA Tournament win over Newman.
 
Fletcher is entering his senior year, and Simpson highlighted his value as a defender, saying, "I think he's also special. He tends to go under the radar with his contributions. He wasn't selected for any of the all-conference teams this year, which I believe is a travesty. He is by far one of the best defenders in the league."
 
Sam Ryder, an All-GAC/MIAA Honorable Mention selection from 2024, will play his final season on the Hill in 2025. Last season, the Christchurch, New Zealand, native appeared in 23 games with 17 starts, totaling 1584 minutes on the pitch. Notably, he chipped in the game-winning goal against Northeastern at home.
 
"Sam has been extremely effective for us," Simpson remarked. "He's played in every national tournament game we've participated in, and I believe we've got a strong back line returning. He's a key piece of it."
 
Sophomore Miguel Madrigal has shined in the preseason after a strong freshman year on the Hill. The Norman native made a big impact with 16 appearances and 10 starts last season.
 
"I think Miguel Madrigal is one to watch," Simpson commented on Madrigal. "He was the Gateway Player of the Year in high school and made a lot of plays for us last year."
 
Senior Conor Mills (Sydney, Australia), sophomore Mason Largent (Edmond, Okla.) and Devon Garza (Prosper, Texas) also look to bring experience to the defensive side of the pitch this season.
 
Four freshmen — Oskar Gruszkowski (Kingston upon Hull, England), Lucas Taylor Van Balen (Glendale, Arizona), Harrison Vaughan (Shrewsbury, England), and Bruno Luna (San Luis, Arizona) — along with transfers Dany Chassin (Mount Vernon Nazarene) and Gian Filizzola (Hinds Community College), look to make an impact on the Hillcat defense this season.
 
MEET THE GOALKEEPERS
Five exceptionally talented goalkeepers are on the roster this season, with two senior returners and three freshmen.
 
Senior Jaxon Kendall (14-4-5) is coming off an outstanding junior season with the Red and Navy. The Owasso native had a record-breaking year as the Hillcats' goalkeeper, earning selections to the All-GAC/MIAA Second Team and D2CCA All-Central Region Second Team. Kendall recorded 12 shutouts, the most by a goalkeeper at RSU in a single season, and posted a 0.82 goals-against average that included 77 saves. He was also named MIAA Goalkeeper of the Week three times and earned recognition as a CSC Academic All-America Third Team selection.
 
"If Jaxon Kendall wasn't in goal last year, we don't make the elite eight, that's for sure," Simpson said about the senior keeper. "Some of the saves he made early in the season, when we were trying to find our footing in goal, I still remember a couple of the saves he made against McKendree in the first game that he shouldn't have made. They were incredible. That was his first year as a starting goalkeeper, and he blew me away in terms of expectations."
 
Casey Copenhaver also returns to the Hill for his final season. The Bixby, Oklahoma, native forced a combined shutout against Ouachita Baptist in 2024.
 
Freshman Tristan Miller (Cape Town, South Africa), Lucas Fijnaut (Utrecht, Netherlands) and Luca Sorrentino (Enfield, England) have each received high praise from the coaching staff heading into the season.
 
FINAL WORDS FROM COACH SIMPSON
"I believe we will play an exciting brand of football. Fans can expect high energy, commitment, and a real desire to put on a show. We appreciate all the support we can get. Our team aims to represent the college the right way; we want to win every single game and make fans excited to attend. I truly believe we have the players who can help us achieve that. All glory to God and Jesus Christ, and I hope, God willing, we can make more history."