Bolivar, Mo. – The SBU men's soccer team closed out the 2026 season on a high note Tuesday afternoon, defeating Rockhurst University 3-1 at the SBU Soccer Field. The victory gave the Bearcats an 8-7-2 overall record and their first winning season since the program's restart.
After falling behind early, the Bearcats battled back as Derrick Londono Zapata scored in the 28th minute to even the match. Thomas Ladetto gave SBU the lead in the 68th minute off assists from Luis Sanchez-Barbudo Cruz and Londono Zapata. Sanchez-Barbudo Cruz added an insurance goal in the final minute to secure the victory.
SBU finished with 13 shots, including six on goal, while goalkeeper Jan-Henry Schäfer recorded six saves in the win.
The Bearcats finished conference play with a 5-7-2 record, earning 17 GLVC points and narrowly missing out on their first-ever GLVC Tournament appearance. Despite falling just short of the postseason, SBU made tremendous strides throughout the year, securing its first winning season since the program's return and building momentum for the future of Bearcat soccer.
