The Lancaster Bible College Men's Soccer team is set for their 2026 season as their schedule includes 17-game regular season matches with eight United East Conference contests. The Chargers are led by 16th-year head coach Tom Ardt (137-120-34) and are coming off a 4-3-1 conference finish and a United East Quarterfinal appearance in the postseason after finishing sixth in the standings. Lancaster Bible will look to compete in a 12-team United East field this season and will play nine home and eight road games including one matchup against a preseason Top-25 program.
 
The Chargers are returning 13 total players from last year's roster including three 2025 All-Conference selections and 10 total upperclassmen. Key offensive contributors including United East Third Team selection Zach Coryell (Gr.) as well as Silas Dellaperute (Jr.), leading all returners with four goals each in 2025, with six out of their eight combined goals coming in conference play. The Chargers also return several key defenders, including Joel Walker (Jr.) who led the team in total minutes and earned United East Second Team honors and goalkeeper Micah Dressler (So.) who earned Third Team honors in goal as a freshman. In addition, the Chargers have 16 total incoming players for this season including four transfers to put their roster at 29 players heading into the year.
 
Lancaster Bible opens up the 2026 season at home on Tuesday, September 1 as they host Pitt-Greensburg at 4:00 p.m., then host Lebanon Valley on Friday, September 4 at 7:00 p.m. The Chargers have their first road game at Alvernia on September 6 at 3:00 p.m., then travel out to University Heights, Ohio to face John Carroll on Wednesday, September 9 at 7:00 p.m. The Chargers then have three straight home games as they host Gwynedd Mercy (Sept. 14), Albright (Sept. 16) then Centenary (N.J.) on Saturday, September 19 at 2:30 p.m. for LBC Homecoming Weekend. The Chargers then face a tough five-game road stretch, facing preseason #16-ranked Messiah on Wednesday, September 23 at 7:30 p.m. before opening up United East action against Cairn on Saturday, September 26 at 3:30 p.m. Their final non-conference game is at Eastern on September 29 before facing both Penn College (Oct. 3) and Gallaudet (Oct. 7) in conference play. After a brief return home to face Penn St. Brandywine on Saturday, October 10 at 2:30 p.m., the Chargers have their final road game of the season as they face Keystone on October 13 at 7:00 p.m. The Chargers conclude the regular season with three home matches, hosting Penn St. Harrisburg (Oct. 17), Notre Dame (Md.) (Oct. 21), and Wilson (Oct. 24), then the conference postseason gets underway on Saturday, October 31 as the top eight teams qualify for the playoffs to compete for the United East crown on Saturday, November 7.
 
Head coach Tom Ardt had this to say about his outlook on the 2026 season for his team:

"Our team looks very different than it has the past two seasons, and we are excited about the ideas we have and the identity we are forming with a young and hungry team."
 
The Chargers have their first home game of the year next Tuesday, September 1 as they take on Pitt-Greensburg at 4:00 p.m. on Donald H. Funk Field at Willis & Martha Herr Stadium. To follow along with the Men's Soccer team and all of LBC's athletic programs, view this link to the 2026 Men's Soccer Schedule and follow the Chargers on Instagram at lbcathletics.