Football | 8/24/2026 12:00:00 PM

ERIE, Pa. – With students returning to campus and the first day of classes set for Wednesday, August 26, the Gannon Athletics Weekly Preview is back as the 2026-27 athletic season gets underway.

Expectations and standards remain high for Gannon Athletics after another outstanding year for the Golden Knights. Gannon is coming off a 20th-place finish in the 2025-26 LEARFIELD Directors' Cup standings while also finishing second in the PSAC Dixon Trophy standings.

That momentum carries into a busy opening week, with five teams beginning their seasons and three nationally ranked Gannon squads set for action. Men's soccer enters the season ranked No. 11 nationally, while women's soccer and volleyball both begin the year ranked No. 23.

Expectations are also high within the PSAC. No. 11 men's soccer and No. 23 volleyball were both selected as the preseason favorites in the PSAC Western Division, while No. 23 women's soccer was picked to finish second in the PSAC West.

Here's a look at the week ahead for the Golden Knights:

Men's Soccer

Thursday, Aug. 27 – No. 11 Gannon vs. Lake Erie – 6 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 30 – No. 11 Gannon vs. East Stroudsburg – 12 p.m.

Head coach Billy Colton and the No. 11 Gannon men's soccer team officially get the 2026-27 Gannon Athletics season underway on Thursday, August 27, hosting Lake Erie at 6 p.m. at McConnell Family Stadium.

This marks the third consecutive season the Golden Knights will open their campaign against the Storm. Gannon is 1-0-1 in the previous two season-opening meetings, playing Lake Erie to a 3-3 tie a season ago after earning a 5-0 victory in the 2024 opener.

The Golden Knights return to action on Sunday, August 30, hosting East Stroudsburg at noon for Youth Soccer Appreciation Day.

Gannon enters the season ranked No. 11 nationally and as the preseason favorite in the PSAC Western Division.
 
Volleyball

Friday, Aug. 28 – No. 23 Gannon vs. No. 1 Concordia-St. Paul – 9:30 a.m.
Friday, Aug. 28 – No. 23 Gannon at Cedarville – 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 29 – No. 23 Gannon vs. No. 24 Missouri-St. Louis – 11 a.m.

Head coach Matt Darling and No. 23 Gannon open the 2026 season with three matches at the Cedarville Tournament in Cedarville, Ohio, beginning with a familiar challenge against the nation's top-ranked team.

For the second consecutive season, the Golden Knights will open their campaign against the No. 1-ranked team in the country as they face No. 1 Concordia-St. Paul on Friday, August 28 at 9:30 a.m.

The matchup will also be a rematch of last season's NCAA Division II Elite Eight, where Concordia-St. Paul ended Gannon's 2025 postseason run.

The Golden Knights return to the court later Friday to face host Cedarville at 7:30 p.m. before concluding the opening weekend with another nationally ranked matchup against No. 24 Missouri-St. Louis on Saturday at 11 a.m.

Gannon enters the season ranked No. 23 nationally and was selected as the preseason favorite in the PSAC Western Division.

Football

Saturday, Aug. 29 – Gannon at Davenport – 12 p.m.

Head coach Erik Raeburn and the Gannon football team kick off the 2026 season on Saturday, August 29, traveling to Grand Rapids, Mich. to face Davenport at noon. For the second consecutive season, the Golden Knights will open their campaign against the Panthers after hosting Davenport in the 2025 season opener at McConnell Family Stadium.

With preseason camp coming to a close and several new faces joining the coaching staff, the Golden Knights turn their attention to a fresh start in 2026. Gannon will look to take a step forward this fall as it begins a new season on the road Saturday afternoon.

Men's Water Polo

Saturday, Aug. 29 – Gannon vs. Fordham – 3:20 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 29 – Gannon vs. LIU – 7:20 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 30 – Gannon vs. Iona – 10:20 a.m.
Sunday, Aug. 30 – Gannon at Brown – 2:20 p.m.

Head coach Zarko Sadikovic and the Gannon men's water polo team open the 2026 season with a four-game weekend at the Bruno Classic, hosted by Brown University in Providence, R.I.

The Golden Knights open tournament play on Saturday against Fordham at 3:20 p.m. before facing LIU at 7:20 p.m.

Gannon returns to the pool Sunday morning against Iona at 10:20 a.m. before closing the opening weekend against host Brown at 2:20 p.m.

Women's Soccer

Sunday, Aug. 30 – No. 23 Gannon vs. Seton Hill – 3 p.m.

Head coach Colin Petersen and No. 23 Gannon women's soccer open the 2026 season on Sunday, August 30, as the second half of a Golden Knights soccer doubleheader at McConnell Family Stadium.

The Golden Knights jump right into PSAC West action, hosting Seton Hill at 3 p.m. in their season, home and conference opener.

Expectations are high for Petersen's squad entering the 2026 campaign. The Golden Knights begin the year ranked No. 23 nationally and were selected to finish second in the PSAC Western Division preseason poll.