Despite two ties and a home loss in their first matches, Grinnell men’s soccer is confident for a strong 2025- 26 season. “We want to play in the NCAA tournament. We want to win the conference tournament,” said head coach Brian “Jaws” Jaworski.
The Pioneers played their season opener against Coe College without head coach Jaworski, who served a one-match suspension for attending the first half of a preseason game involving a future opponent. Jaworski said he was unaware of the rule but accepted responsibility and the penalty.
“It hurt our team,” Jaworski said of his absence against Coe, a home opener Grinnell dominated in possession and chances but which resulted in a draw. The void was felt on the pitch.
“If Coach Jaws was there, I think we would have won that game three or four-zero,” midfielder and captain Oliver Northing `25.5 said.
head coach Brian Jaworski against Coe College on Aug. 29. (Julia Marlin)
The bad run for Grinnell continued with a 1-1 away tie with the University of Dubuque after being in the lead just 17 minutes before the final whistle and a disappointing 3-0 home loss against Simpson College, where three quick counterattacks on the right flank proved fatal for the match’s outcome despite overwhelming possession by Grinnell.
However, far from pessimistic, the team is energized for the rest of the season, driven by a shift to a possession-first approach and a large first-year class. “Last year, we tried to play back to front—lots of long balls,” Northing said. “This year we’re stronger in midfield, building from the back, possessing through the middle and linking to the front line.” He added, “We have eight first-years. They’re all really solid and have integrated quickly.”
“Grit never sleeps,” Jaworski emphasized, calling it a key principle for the men’s soccer team. He says the squad’s spirit has strengthened since last season, driving players to work harder in practice and make the necessary concessions of college life as student-athletes. “Whatever happens in these matches will not be because we’re not a team,” he added.
Jaworski has further issued a special training kit for his team with the acronym CTCC, which stands for Consistent Communication, Trust, Competence, Confidence. “When you have trust in your life, it’s because you have communicated consistently. When you have those two things now you’re competent to do anything, and when you’re competent, you should be confident,” said Jaworski.
“We’ve made it to the conference tournament every year, the championship twice,” Northing said, reflecting on his five years in the men’s soccer team. “I think we have the spirit, the experience to make it happen again.” Grinnell’s next fixture is an away game against Central College on Saturday, Sept. 6th at 1 p.m.
