WASHINGTON (August 20, 2025) - As the Howard University men's soccer season gets underway, there is a combination of the usual excitement, but it is also tempered by a reality check.
 
"When I look at the team, I am excited about the speed and overall athleticism of this group," said Bison head coach Phillip Gyau, who is entering his 11th year at the helm. "We made a conscious effort to improve in that area, especially on the defensive side."
 
The Bison enter the season losing three of the top four scorers, including Mason Christian (13 points), Bryson Baker (11 points) and Peter Gansallo (seven points), who combined for the bulk of the team's scoring a year ago.
 
Gyau is hopeful that the trio can be replaced by sophomores Zach Simmons (Rockwall, Texas) and Daniil Kaban (Kharkiv, Ukraine), redshirt freshman Naim Robinson (Detroit), senior Roman Stallings (Tyrone, Ga.) and graduate transfer from Yale Justin Harris (Ypsilanti, Mich.).
 
"When you have 18- and 19-year-olds playing at this level, there are going to be those moments when the lack of experience are going to be a determining factor," Gyau explained. "We just have to continue to coach them through it all."
 
Last season, Kaban was named to the All-Rookie Team and should provide something along with Simmons. The Texas native played all 16 games as a substitute and accounted for seven points in a backup role.
 
"I see myself playing a bigger role for the team this season," said Simmons, a business management major. "I learned a lot from the veterans like Bryson, and getting a chance to play at this level as a freshman last year helped me understand what it takes to prepare and compete. Now, it's time for us to take the next step."
 
Stallings is in his fourth year with the program and has been named team captain. The senior is excited about the challenge.
 
"Although this team is relatively young, there is an energy that they have," said Stallings, who played all 16 games a year ago, including 14 starts. "There are going to be some growing pains, but I like what I see. In the past, we were not as fit coming into preseason, but this year, we performed outstanding in the fitness and training tests. It is time for us to turn the page with the program." 
 
In an effort, Gyau has downsized the strength of schedule to accommodate the makeup of the team. The University of Pittsburgh and other Power 5 opponents have been replaced.
 
"We had some challenges in our game at Pitt a year ago," Gyau stated. "They were not only deep, but they had several older, more mature players."
 
The Bison will still take on traditional powerhouse Duke in Durham, N.C.
 
"We learned a lot from last year when you played those programs," said Gyau, who is widely respected in the soccer community. "Duke has so much depth and we were in a scoreless tie with them after 45 minutes last year. But in the second half, they manhandled us because of that depth. We were physically expended."
 
To that end, Gyau put a stronger emphasis on strength and stamina in the offseason to go along with the improved speed and skill set. The result was that the team improved its time in the fitness and stamina drills with some of the best times in recent history.
 
Equally important in the strategic scheduling, Gyau says it gives the team a time to develop and gain experience when it comes to NEC (Northeast Conference) play.
 
"It is our goal to utilize the competition and development during nonconference play as preparation for the NEC," Gyau explained. "The goal is to qualify for the conference tournament."
 
When Gyau took over the program, it was hit with APR infractions. The HU alum quickly set a standard for the program. Since then, the men's soccer team has ranked among the top in the athletic program.
 
"We take a lot of pride in making sure that our student-athletes maintain a high standard," Gyau concluded. "We had a 3.5 cumulative grade point average this past year. We are proud that several former players who have gone on to do well in their professional pursuits."
 
Gyau adds that he has taken a different stance on recruiting, going after local players.
 
"This area is now one of the top areas for recruiting," Gyau expressed. "We have seven players from the area, who we expect to not only help but be a foundation for the future." 
 
Howard opens the season Thursday, August 21, when it travels to Asheville, N.C., to take on UNC Asheville at 6 p.m. That game will be streamed on ESPN+.
 
The Bison's home opener will be Sunday, August 24, when they host San Diego State at noon in Greene Stadium and will be live streamed on the NEC Front Row. 
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.