After a 4-12-2 season in 2025, the SUNY Poly men's soccer team enters 2026 looking to take another step forward and return to the Empire 8 Conference postseason.
The Wildcats finished 4-12-2 overall last season and were unable to qualify for the Empire 8 playoffs. Despite the team's struggles, SUNY Poly showed flashes of potential throughout the year, including four victories and several competitive contests against conference opponents.
Now, with a new season ahead, the Wildcats will look to build on last year's experience, strengthen both sides of the ball and establish themselves as a contender in the Empire 8.
Looking Back at 2025
Offensively, SUNY Poly was led by Dominick Spychalski and Nazim Harizi. Spychalski finished the season with four goals and two assists for 10 points, while Harizi also recorded four goals and added eight points. Spychalski was particularly efficient in front of the net, scoring on 19.0 percent of his shots while putting 57.1 percent of his attempts on goal.
Jael Casimir added two goals and two assists for six points, while Colby Diamond, JohnPaul Jerome and LaEh Soe each contributed three points. Diamond finished with a team-best 83.3 percent shots-on-goal percentage among players with multiple attempts.
The Wildcats received additional contributions throughout the lineup. Gavin Barth and Owen Champion each scored one goal and added an assist, while Marcus Cole recorded two assists. Elijah North also found the back of the net once, while Xander Novack and Andrew Sprenger each contributed an assist.
As a team, SUNY Poly scored 16 goals and recorded 11 assists for 43 total points over 18 matches. The Wildcats registered 185 shots, including 77 shots on goal.
Defensively, Tyler Barth was a key contributor throughout the season. Barth started all 18 matches in goal and played all 1,620 minutes, recording 91 saves and posting a .765 save percentage. He finished the season with a 1.56 goals-against average and recorded four shutouts.
As a team, the Wildcats faced a difficult defensive challenge, allowing 28 goals over the course of the season. SUNY Poly's defensive unit will look to build upon last year's experience while helping the team limit opposing scoring opportunities in 2026.
A New-Look Wildcats
The Wildcats will look to carry the experience gained from last season into 2026 as they continue to develop within the Empire 8 Conference.
SUNY Poly returns several players who saw significant playing time last season, providing the team with valuable experience across the field. Players such as Nazim Harizi, Jael Casimir, Colby Diamond and JohnPaul Jerome will look to take on important roles offensively, while Tyler Barth returns between the posts after leading the team in goalkeeping throughout the 2025 campaign.
With returning experience throughout the lineup, the Wildcats will look to develop greater consistency on both ends of the field and turn close contests into victories.
Players to Watch
Nazim Harizi — Senior, Forward/Midfielder
Nazim enters the 2026 season as one of SUNY Poly's most experienced offensive players after leading the Wildcats with four goals while adding two assists during the 2025 campaign. Harizi appeared in all 18 matches and started each contest, establishing himself as a consistent presence in the SUNY Poly attack. With another season of experience under his belt, he will look to provide an offensive spark for the Wildcats.
After recording two goals and two assists last season, Jael will look to take on an even larger role in the Wildcats' midfield. Casimir appeared in all 18 matches and started 15, providing SUNY Poly with valuable experience throughout the season. His ability to contribute both as a scorer and facilitator will be important as the Wildcats look to generate more offensive opportunities in 2026.
Tyler will once again be a key piece of the Wildcats' defensive effort after starting all 18 matches in goal last season. He recorded 91 saves, posted a .765 save percentage and finished the season with four shutouts. With extensive experience as SUNY Poly's last line of defense, Barth will look to anchor the Wildcats' back line and help the team become more difficult to score against.
Looking Ahead
The Wildcats open their 2026 season on September 1, when they square off against Bryant and Stratton (Syr.) at 6:00 PM on the Wildcat Turf.
