COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – University of Colorado Colorado Springs head men's soccer coach Lewis Wilcox unveiled his 2026 recruiting class on Thursday afternoon, announcing the addition of 16 incoming student-athletes to the program for the upcoming fall season.
 
Wilcox and the Mountain Lions are set to add a talented group of newcomers to a roster that is coming off a historic 2025 campaign that saw the program capture its first Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference regular season and tournament championships before earning its third consecutive berth in the NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Tournament. As the No. 10 seed in the national tournament, the Mountain Lions secured their first two NCAA playoff victories and advanced to the Round of 16 for the first time in program history.
 
"We are delighted to welcome the new lads to the team in August," exclaimed Wilcox. "We have worked extremely hard as a staff to find the right characters who will positively impact our team culture. We know that if we want to improve on last year, we must be diligent in adding only the right people to our locker room. Naturally, there is a lot of talent in the incoming class, and we are excited to see how they can help us go even further than we did in 2025. We have a strong core of players returning who will set the standard for us moving forward, and we can't wait to add this group of talented individuals into our family." 
 
Cooper Arledge joins the UCCS soccer program as a 2026 graduate of Cherry Creek High School, where he was a standout member of the Bruins' boys' soccer team. A native of Centennial, Colo., Arledge engineered an impressive stat line during his senior season at Cherry Creek as he recorded a school record 26 goals and added eight assists for a total of 60 points, earning First Team All-Conference and First Team All-State accolades. As the CHSAA 5A leader in goals and points, the senior striker was named the CCHS and Centennial League MVP and went on to lead the Bruins to a conference championship and a round of eight appearance in the CHSAA 5A State Playoffs.
 
"Cooper is a versatile player who can play almost anywhere on the field," said Wilcox. "He's had a strong club soccer career, and we believe he has all the tools to be a success at the next level. His personality will mesh well with our current group, and I think he'll enjoy his time as a Mountain Lion. Cooper was one of our first official signings of this current class and we look forward to seeing him represent UCCS."
 
Ieuan Bailey joins the Mountain Lions for the 2026 campaign after playing for Cheltenham Town FC U18 last season. A wingback from Gloucester, England, Bailey scored six goals and notched 16 assists for the club during the 2025-26 season and will now bring his talents stateside to begin his collegiate career at UCCS.
 
"I'm delighted to welcome Ieuan to Colorado Springs this fall," stated Wilcox. "He brings technical qualities that will allow him to thrive at this level. Ieuan has been a pleasure to get to know throughout the recruiting process and I believe he'll fit right in with the current squad. He is deadly from set-pieces and has a sweet left foot. I'm looking forward to watching him grow in our environment."
 
A local native from Colorado Springs, Colo., Toby Benitez comes to UCCS after spending his first two prep seasons at Liberty High School before graduating from Goal Academy High School this past spring. A midfielder by trade, Benitez played his club soccer with Real Colorado Academy and will look to make an impact in the center of the pitch for the Mountain Lions during his true freshman season.
 
"Toby is a top local player who developed at Real Colorado," said Wilcox. "He has had a very successful club career and is currently performing at a high level in the USL2. He is a very versatile player with amazing energy and athleticism. He is going to be a great fit for our system. He works relentlessly and has the scrappiness to be an instant hit in the RMAC. I have really enjoyed getting to know Toby and we are ecstatic to welcome him to the group this fall."
 
A 2026 graduate of Northfield High School, Carlos Estrada Soto is set to join the Mountain Lion family as a 5-foot-11 center back who played his club soccer at MLS Next Rapids Academy from 2018-24 and MLS Next Colorado Albion from 2024-26. A captain on both squads, Estrada Soto helped his team finish as the runner-up at the 2025 Generation adidas Cup.  
 
"Carlos is a strong defender who will match well with our style at UCCS," stated Wilcox. "He is eager to prove himself at the next level and I have a lot of confidence in his abilities. He is a smart player who makes good decisions in the build-out phase and will help us advance the ball forward with his wide range of passing. He has the grit required to be a successful RMAC player for years to come. I'm thrilled to welcome Carlos to the family."
 
Cooper Johnson joins the Mountain Lion men's soccer program for the 2026 campaign after beginning his collegiate career at Laramie County Community College (2024) and Salt Lake Community College (2025). As a freshman at LCCC, Johnson appeared in 13 games for the Golden Eagles' men's soccer program, notching five goals and four assists for a total of 14 points while adding 39 shots and 22 shots on goal. The 5-foot-9 midfielder brought his talents to Salt Lake CC for the 2025 campaign and put together another solid campaign as he scored three goals and posted two assists while helping the Bruins win the Region 18 Championship. A native of Broomfield, Colo., Johnson played his prep soccer at Broomfield High School, where he was a 2023 graduate.
 
"Cooper is someone we have monitored and liked for a couple of years," said Wilcox. "He's a great fit for our program because of his energy and work rate. Cooper is a very determined character who will fully commit himself to the cause. I'm really excited to work with him and hopefully maximize his abilities. He can play multiple positions but is really dangerous out wide. I can see him being an important part of the team both on and off the field for the next couple of years."
 
A 2026 graduate of Robbinsdale Armstrong High School, Moses Kamara makes his way to UCCS following a strong prep career as a member of the Falcons' boys' soccer team. In four years with the program, Kamara established a new school record with 71 goals and earned a trio of Northwest Suburban All-Conference accolades while leading the team to its first section final since 2002. A winger from Crystal, Minn., Kamara put together an incredible 2025 campaign as he was the top goal scorer in the state of Minnesota with 26 on the season and earned a bevy of awards, including First Team All-State, All-America, and Mr. Soccer accolades.
 
"Moses is an explosive attacking player who will be exciting to watch this season," exclaimed Wilcox. "He is confident in 1v1 situations and will be a real threat for us going forward. He is another player with great energy who compliments our style well. I'm looking forward to watching him grow as both a player and a person as a member of our program."
 
A center back from Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, Renan Oliveira joins the UCCS men's soccer program after a highly successful two-year stint at Otero College in which he appeared in 32 games and helped the Rattlers secure the Region 9 District Championship. Oliveira finished his career at Otero with a pair of All-Conference accolades as he was a standout defender for the Rattlers while also contributing on the offensive side of the ball with four goals and three assists, including a pair of game-winning scores.
 
"Renan has been a standout member of a very successful Otero team over the last couple of seasons," said Wilcox. "He is a tough left footed defender who has great composure with the ball at his feet in addition to his strong defensive capabilities. He is a mature player who will bring leadership and work rate into our environment. I anticipate Renan adapting to our team culture very quickly and having a very successful couple of seasons at UCCS."
 
Hailing from Casper, Wyo., Jael Reyes will join the Mountain Lions' talented group of midfielders for the 2026 campaign after capping off a successful two-year career at Casper College last fall. A Second Team All-Region honoree while a member of the ThunderBirds, Reyes displayed an advanced eye for the pitch as he recorded 15 assists across 25 games, which places him among the top five in Casper College program history.
 
"Jael is a midfielder out of Wyoming with a great engine and work rate," stated Wilcox. "He has had a successful college career so far with Casper, and I believe that experience will set him up well for a smooth transition to our program. I expect he will be difficult to outwork, and he has the technical ability necessary to be a reliable midfielder in the RMAC. I'm looking forward to welcoming Jael to Colorado Springs in August."
 
A 6-foot center back from Caerphilly, Wales, Olly Reynolds will join the Mountain Lions' defensive unit for the 2026 campaign after playing with Cardiff City FC throughout his youth career. In addition to his extensive time at Cardiff City, Reynolds also brings with him experience at the national level as he accrued 13 appearances with the Wales National Team.
 
"We are very excited to welcome Olly to Colorado Springs this fall," exclaimed Wilcox. "He has had a great youth career at Cardiff City in addition to his experience with the Wales youth national team squads. He is a smart player who will help us both in and out of possession. He's technically clean and will settle things down with his composure on the ball. Olly will look to make a big impact this fall, and I know he is determined to come into our environment and elevate his game." 
 
A 2026 graduate of Pueblo Central High School, Leo Styduhar is set to join the UCCS goalkeeper corps for the upcoming fall season after completing a highly accomplished prep career. As a three-year member of the Wildcats boys' soccer program, Styduhar was a three-time South Central League Goalkeeper of the Year and SCL First Team All-Conference honoree in addition to leading the SCL in saves from 2022-24. A two-time CHSAA 3A All-State Honorable Mention, the 6-foot goalkeeper helped lead the Wildcats to state playoff qualification in 2024, marking the program's first appearance at the state level since 1996. During his senior season of high school, Styduhar made the transition to the Switchbacks 2 Academy Team, where established himself as the starting goalkeeper and helped the squad win the Mountain Premier League Championship.
 
"I'm thrilled to be welcoming Leo to UCCS," said Wilcox. "He has done very well at Switchbacks Academy and has had some amazing experience with the first team. In particular, his training experience with Calle Brown will set him up well as he embarks on his college career in the springs. He's been a real pleasure to get to know, and I'm excited to see him enhance our goalkeeper department with his work ethic and drive."
 
A forward from Shawnee, Kan., Lucas Taitt joins the Mountain Lions as a transfer from RMAC-foe Colorado School of Mines, where he spent the first two seasons of his collegiate career. After redshirting his first year at Mines, Taitt had a breakout season in 2025 as he was an All-RMAC Honorable Mention for the Orediggers, scoring one goal and recording eight assists across 16 matches. Prior to his two-year stint as an Oredigger, Taitt had a standout prep career Shawnee Mission Northwest High School in which he scored 33 goals and recorded 17 assists.
 
"Lucas was someone we moved very quickly with when he became available this spring," stated Wilcox. "I believe he has the potential to be a top player at this level, and I'm delighted he chose UCCS as the next step in his college career. His athleticism really separates him, and he also has the technical qualities to punish teams when given the chance. Our style really suits him as a player and complements his abilities. He's a versatile player who can play in several positions and I anticipate him causing a lot of issues for opponents this fall."
 
Joining UCCS from New South Wales, Australia, Finlay Thomson is set to bring his 6-foot-1 frame to the Mountain Lions' midfield after playing with Hakoah FC last season.
 
"Fin impressed us during a training session with the team this spring," said Wilcox. "He comes from a strong playing background in Australia and will look to make an impact early in his career at UCCS. He's a composed center-midfielder with a good range of passing and a good engine. He's a smart player who understands the game at a high level. Fin will be a welcomed addition to our midfield group, and we look forward to seeing him represent the Mountain Lions."
 
A 2025 graduate of DSST Green Valley Ranch High School, Isaac Vega will join the Mountain Lion men's soccer program as a midfielder who scored 25 goals and notched 30 assists throughout his prep career. As a member of the Raptors' boys' soccer team, Vega was a 3A All-Conference honoree and made the dean's list in each of his four years.
 
"Isaac is a talented midfielder from Denver who will be a welcomed addition to the squad this fall," said Wilcox. "We've monitored Isaac's development for a while and believe he has the potential to be a quality midfielder in our conference. He's a smart player who is confident under pressure and can control the pace of the game. Isaac will be a fun player to watch this season and beyond."
 
The Mountain Lions also had a trio of semester additions to the squad that joined the team this past spring.
 
Kai Ciambor joined the UCCS men's soccer program this past spring after completing a highly decorated four-year career with the boys' soccer team at Juneau-Douglas High School in Juneau, Alaska. In 61 games played for the Crimson Bears, Ciambor scored 61 goals and recorded 36 assists while helping the team record a pair of state championships. A four-time All-Conference and All-State honoree, Ciambor put together an impressive senior season in 2025 as he was named the Gatorade Alaska Player of the Year and the Railbelt Conference MVP after 16 goals and 12 assists.
 
"After a stellar high-school career in Alaska and a stint with the Switchbacks Academy, Kai joined up with our squad in January.," said Wilcox. "Kai is a hard-working and fast attacker who can create real problems for defenders. He had a successful spring season highlighted by a couple of great goals. He has adapted to our environment really well and I am excited to see how he continues to grow as a player during his time with the program."
 
After spending his freshman season at Fort Lewis College, Yohann Fila joined the UCCS men's soccer program in the spring and is set to fill a crucial role in the front field for the Mountain Lions in 2026. A forward hailing from Nantes, France, Fila appeared in 17 games for the Skyhawks last season, scoring five goals and recording four assists for a total of 14 points. Fila's collegiate career got off to a scorching start as he recorded a brace in his second career game at Fort Lewis, netting a pair of goals in a 3-3 draw at St. Edward's University.
 
"Yohann joined us this spring after a successful first season in the RMAC last fall," said Wilcox. "He is a creative attacking player who can play a variety of positions across the front line. He is technically gifted and enjoys creating goals for others just as much as scoring goals. We are excited to see Yohann competing for the Mountain Lions this upcoming season."
 
Another spring addition to the squad, Gavin Gartner rounds out Wilcox's 2026 recruiting class as a center back with an athletic 6-foot-3 frame who played his freshman season at the collegiate level as a member of the Cal Poly Humboldt men's soccer program in 2025. In his first taste of NCAA action, Gartner was a centerpiece of the Lumberjacks' defensive unit as he made 16 starts and logged more than 1,200 minutes on the pitch for Humboldt in his debut season. Prior to beginning his collegiate career, Gartner attended Legacy High School in Broomfield, Colo. and spent three years with the Lightning Bolts' varsity boys' soccer program and helped the squad to back-to-back Front Range League Championships in 2023-24. A First Team All-Conference and Second Team All-State honoree, Gartner scored 10 goals and notched three assists in addition to his exceptional defensive contributions during his prep career.
 
"Gavin was a spring addition after proving himself in a strong CCAA conference last season," stated Wilcox. "He is a center-back who reads the game well and can dominate in the air. He's a strong defender who doesn't shy away from a challenge and will add some real presence to our backline this fall. We're delighted to officially welcome Gavin to our Mountain Lion family."

The Mountain Lions are set to commence the 2026 campaign in San Antonio, Texas with a neutral site match against Sul Ross State University on Thursday, Aug. 27 and a road match against St. Mary's University on Saturday, Aug. 29. UCCS will open their home schedule the following weekend with a non-conference clash against the 2025 National Champions Midwestern State University on Friday, Sept. 4 with kickoff slated for 6 p.m. at Mountain Lion Stadium.
 
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