The 2026-27 campaign for the Utah State Eastern men's soccer team is underway. The Eagles, featuring nine sophomore and 26 freshmen, began their season with a trip to preseason No. 4 Mohave Community College in Bullhead City, Arizona.
The Eagles and Bighorns proved to be evenly matched, carrying a scoreless tie into the end of the first half. The Eagles took 10 shots in the first half, forcing six saves by the Mohave CC goalkeeper.
After the start of the second half, the Eagles looked for an opportunity to control the match. The Eagles found their opportunity when Leandro Robles found the back of the net in the 56th minute. The sophomore from West Jordan, Utah, scored on an assist from freshman Tanner Kunz.
Eastern ended their dominance of the second half by shutting out the Bighorns, 1-0 for an upset of No. 4 Mohave CC.
USU Eastern continued their opening weekend with a quick stop in Henderson, NV to take on the College of Southern Nevada Coyotes.
Unlike their previous match, the Eagles wasted no time scoring against the Coyotes. Luis Velasco opened scoring in the seventh minute with a goal from a Rodrigo Palacios assist. Leandro Suarez Soruco wasted no time, scoring just a minute later, assisted by Oliver Palafox. Suarez Soruco's goal gave Eastern an early 2-0 lead.
Ishmail Shehata scored in the 43rd minute on an assist by Christian Poll, one of two assists for Poll in the match. Shehata's goal pushed Eastern to a 3-0 lead going into halftime.
Shehata found the back of the net for a second time in the 67th minute to give Eastern a four-goal lead after the half. Poll's second assist of the match came on a Kash Peterson goal in the 80th minute. Poll later found the back of the net in the 87th minute for the Eagles' sixth and final goal of the match.
Xavier Peregrina recorded two saves and pitched Eastern's second shutout of the season, 6-0.
USU Eastern will continue non-conference with a multi-day road trip to Wyoming and Nebraska. The Eagles will first travel to No. 18 Casper College on Thursday, Aug. 27, before heading to Western Nebraska Community College on Saturday, Aug. 29.
