Villanova men's soccer kicks off the 2026 regular season Thursday, Aug. 20, against Philly Soccer Six rival Temple at the Higgins Soccer Complex, a noon game streaming on ESPN+.

The Wildcats bring back 21 players from a 2025 squad that went 7-6-5 and slashed goals allowed from 38 to 24. At the center of that defensive turnaround: sophomore center back Brody Crampton, who started all 18 games as a freshman and played every minute of every match, logging 1,620 total minutes, according to a Villanova Athletics feature published Monday.

Crampton, an Orlando native, will again pair with junior Lorenzo Avalos in the middle of the back line. Head coach Mark Fetrow's group showed what that partnership can produce in a preseason exhibition against Bucknell on Aug. 9, when Crampton redirected a corner kick from newcomer Bar Netanel for Villanova's only goal of the day.

"It's huge that there are a lot of us returning," Crampton said. "With that comes so much experience. We're coming in with a lot of those connections pre-established. We're looking for a good season."

Crampton said the backline's year of shared experience should pay dividends. He noted the group now knows its tendencies, strengths and weaknesses, and how to cover for each other after logging heavy minutes together in 2025.

Netanel, an Israeli native, is one of four newcomers on the roster. Crampton said the team expects more goals off set pieces this season, crediting Netanel's delivery.

Off the pitch, Crampton earned Big East All-Academic honors as a freshman finance major after graduating summa cum laude from Lake Highland Prep. His father, Darren Crampton, grew up near West Ham Stadium in England and put a ball at Brody's feet at age two.

After Thursday's opener, Villanova hosts St. Peter's on Monday, Aug. 24, and Fordham on Friday, Aug. 28, before opening Big East play at St. John's on Friday, Sept. 18. The Wildcats are scheduled for 11 home matches at Higgins this fall.