Buckeyes Open Against Virginia Tech Thursday

Thursday, August 20

Columbus, Ohio

8 p.m.

Ohio State

Virginia Tech

Photo by: Ohio State Athletics

Buckeyes Open Against Virginia Tech Thursday

8/18/2026 12:22:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Roberts, McLaughlin named team captains

Ohio State at Virginia Tech
Date: Aug. 20, 2026
Time: 8 p.m.
Venue: Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium (4,518)
Watch: B1G+
Live Stats: OhioStateBuckeyes.com
Rosters: Ohio State | Virginia Tech

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Ohio State men's soccer team begins the 2026 season officially at 8 p.m. Thursday in the season opener at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. The Buckeyes take on Virginia Tech to get the season underway.

The game is part of a doubleheader with the Ohio State women's team, who take on Kansas at 5 p.m. in the first match of the day.

Fans will be treated to a fireworks display after each match.

Follow live stats by going to the men's soccer schedule page at OhioStateBuckeyes.com/live stats.
The Buckeyes open the ninth edition of Brian Maisonneuve's tenure in Columbus in the first of four-consecutive home contests against Virginia Tech Thursday at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.
Ohio State will then face DePaul (Aug. 24/7 p.m.) and Memphis (Aug. 28/8 p.m.) during Wolstein Week. Northern Kentucky ends the season-opening homestand at 4:30 p.m. Sept. 3.
As a team, the 2025 Buckeyes earned a United Soccer Coaches College Team Academic Award after posting a team grade-point average of 3.31.
Sophomore Aaron Hurge, a member of the 2025 All-Big Ten Freshman Team, is one of 13 returners from a year ago. He is the top returning goal scorer (2) with 16 appearances and seven starts to his credit.
Ohio State's Martin Wurschmidt was named to the 2026 United Soccer Coaches MAC Hermann Trophy Positional Players to Watch List prior to the season. Wurschmidt, a junior defender who played last season at Evansville, made the defenders watch list.
Following a team vote, seniors senior midfielder Andre Roberts and senior goalkeeper Patrick McLaughlin were named team captains for the 2026 season.
Roberts, along with newcomers Wurschmidt and Isaiah Chisolm, were named as Ohio State representatives on the Big Ten's 2026 Players to Watch list.
The Buckeyes have claimed the Big Ten regular-season championship five times (2000-07-09-15-24). Ohio State owns four Big Ten Tournament crowns (2000-07-09-24).
The annual Wolstein Classic has changed formats for the 2026 season. Ohio State will face DePaul (Sept. 24) and Memphis (Sept. 28) during Wolstein Week in Columbus this year.
Brian Maisonneuve and his coaching staff added several newcomers in 2026 with a combination of incoming freshmen and transfers. The freshman class includes midfielder Ryan Sullivan, forwards Bryce Ince-Lovelace and Sam Trivisonno, midfielders Matthew Samways and Jack Wayne along with keepers Dylan Arrison and Slade Hall.
Through the transfer portal, the Buckeyes added junior midfielder Victor Labite (Fairleigh Dickinson), junior defender Martin Wurschmidt (Evansville), junior defender Ryan Townhill (San Diego Surg Soccer ECNL), senior forward Isaiah Chisolm (Kentucky), senior midfielder Ryan Hannosh (Butler), graduate defender Christian Baumgartner (DePaul) and graduate defender Elijah Bishop (Central Arkansas). Josué Youta, who played junior college soccer at Daytona State College, also was added as a senior forward.
In games played at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium since it opened in 1999, Ohio State is 148-75-41.