Rustlers Recap 2026: Men's Soccer/Futsal
Record:
Soccer season: Despite having a lead for being within a goal in almost every game, Lakeland went 2-8, finishing 6th in the North Division.
Futsal Season: The Rustlers finished 3-3 in the Northeast Division, qualifying for the ACAC Championship.
Playoff Finish:
Third: Men's futsal entered the postseason as the 7th seed, losing to the hosts, and eventual champions, the Medicine Hat Rattlers 9-4. On the consolation side, Lakeland won three straight games to capture bronze, their second futsal medal of the decade.
All-Stars:
All-Conference Selections: Joshua Malin (Soccer & Futsal), Orrin Edighoffer and Ben Touw (both Futsal).
Team Awards:
Rookie of the Year: Jakob Thompson
Most Improved: Jason Rail
Rustler Award: Santiago Peyrot
Futsal MVP: Orrin Edighoffer
Soccer MVP: Joshua Malin
Graduating Athletes:
None: Several athletes are transferring, including fullback Jack Money, but the core remains, along with a large host of new recruits, including former Rustler Juanma Arango.
Year in Review:
2025-2026 was a true period of growth for men's soccer/futsal at Lakeland College.
On paper, there was enough talent to be competitive during the outdoor season, with several returning players, along with promising transfers and recruits, but the team never quite found their chemistry. Prior to the end of the season, Lakeland could have won or tied each of the six games they lost, but mainly struggled to score.
However, Coach Hani Tekheste and the staff were able to get the group to reset as training shifted indoors. The team still battled some inconsistency, but they were able to turn it up offensively, finishing third overall in goals per game and were a +6 in goal differential. Their first-round playoff matchup was tough, having to face the eventual champs, but they proceeded to defeat Concordia, King's and Keyano to get the bronze medal, winning by scores of 4-1, 5-3 and 1-0.
With such a veteran core returning, expectations are high again for both the outdoor and indoor seasons next year. Malin will play his final year of eligibility, following a summer of competition in the United States, while player like Edighoffer, Touw, Vinny Da Silva and the Thompson twins have a few years of experience behind them. Add to that a large recruiting class, which features some exciting youthful athleticism and a few wily vets like Arango, who was last a member of the team in 2024.
The team kicks training off in early August.