Knight Men's Soccer

Message from Coach Pemberton

Dear Knight Soccer Family,

Fall camp for the 2026-27 season has just concluded, classes are now in full swing and we have spent several days training hard, bonding together as a team, and preparing for an unforgettable season.

Our number one goal is to be “better than yesterday” and I have been so proud of the team by the amount of dedication and effort they have put into everything we do. 

Our coaching staff has been hard at work during the offseason preparing, recruiting, and refining to serve the team to the best of our ability. By way of introduction, I am in my sixth season as the head coach here at Southern Virginia University and am committed to providing a holistic and impactful experience for the young men I have the privilege to coach. 

I am confident that we are more prepared than ever to help this team reach their potential. I am honored to be working with my largest senior class since taking over the program. Not only does this team have seniority and experience but the depth of character and maturity is inspiring.

Thank you for following along and I look forward to seeing many of you at our games and interacting with you all via our media platforms and events.

Go Knights!

Payden Pemberton

Head Men's Soccer Coach

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Catch us on ESPN+

Tonight the SVU Men’s Soccer team will be playing Longwood University, a D1 program from central Virginia. The game is going to be streamed on ESPN+ and will be kicking off at 7pm EST. Tune in to watch your Knights in their second exhibition game before the regular season kicks off next Tuesday!

Be sure to check out the rest of our fall season schedule and mark your calendars so you don’t miss a game!

Fall Schedule

Most games will be streamed on FloSports so make an account today to be ready for next week's regular season kickoff.

FloSports

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Pledge on Saturday

One of our team values is “Pioneer,” as we are hoping to take this program to where it has never been before. This is only possible thanks to the help of those who helped build the program before us and we are incredibly grateful for the family and friends who have donated so far. To further build the program we will be calling our friends and family this Saturday afternoon to ask for your support in helping us reach new heights. If you would like to make a one-time donation we would be incredibly grateful. 

Pledge Options

If you are interested in supporting us throughout this upcoming fall season here are some pledge options to support the team. Please let us know which amount you'd like to pledge for one or several of the options below: 

• Goals Scored

• Shut Outs (conceded zero goals in a game)

• Wins

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Meet our Coaches

Coach Pemberton (center)

Entering his sixth season as head coach, Coach Pemberton is deeply committed to the university’s mission. For him and his family, the opportunity to combine a Christ-centered focus with competitive NCAA athletics is a true privilege. He takes great pride in leading the young men on this roster and looks forward to what the future holds for the program.

Coach Read (left)

Coach Read returns for his second season on the coaching staff. The program is incredibly fortunate to benefit from his continued dedication, passion, and experience. In addition to his coaching duties, he is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Sport Psychology online, with graduation projected for May 2027.

Coach Smith (right)

Coach Smith joins the SVU staff for his first season with the program. He comes from the Brigham Young University men’s soccer program, where he helped coach the team to a Collegiate Club National Championship last year. Prior to coaching, Evan was a standout player for BYU, winning national titles in each of his four years on the team.