'Dons Host Manchester For Party at the Pitch

FORT WAYNE, Ind. - The Purdue Fort Wayne men's soccer team hosts Manchester on Thursday (Sept. 3) as part of the department's annual Party at the Pitch at the Hefner Soccer Complex. The 'Dons and Spartans kick off at 7 p.m. The Mastodon women's soccer team will host Valparaiso at 4 p.m. as part of the festivities. There will be food trucks, giveaways, games and a beer tent (21+). The event is presented by Army ROTC and hosted by the Student Activities Board. Students will receive a free jersey, while the Herd will throw out free water bottles at halftime of each match. The first 350 students will receive a free food voucher. Food trucks include: Drop It Like It's Tot, Another One Bites the Crust, Chau Time, Who Cut the Cheese, King Arthur's, Ziffle's, Sweets on the Street, Dreyer's Ice Cream and Rita's.

Game Day Information
Who: Manchester Spartans
When: Thursday, September 3 | 7 PM
Where: Hefner Soccer Complex
Live Stats: Link
Watch: Link
Tickets: Link

Know Your Foe
Manchester opened the 2026 season with a 2-1 victory at Defiance on Tuesday (Sept. 1). Last season, the Spartans finished with a 3-10-4 overall record and a 2-6-1 mark in Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference play. Manchester scored 10 goals on 142 shots, while allowing 22 and making 101 saves. In head coach Olaoluwade Ladapo's second season at the helm, Manchester was picked to finish eighth in the 2026 HCAC Preseason Poll.

Series History
Manchester leads the all-time series 9-6-0; however, the two teams met for the first time in 42 years last season, where the Mastodons came away with a 3-0 victory.

Party at the Pitch History
The Mastodon men are 3-1 all-time in Party at the Pitch contests.
2019
women def. Valparaiso 2-0
men def. Belmont 2-1
2021
women def. UIC 2-0
2022
men lose to Western Michigan 3-0
2023
women def. Robert Morris 2-0
2024
women lose to Central Michigan 6-1
men def. IU East 10-0
2025
women lose to Ball State 1-0
men def. Manchester 3-0

Last Time Out
The Purdue Fort Wayne men's soccer team fell 2-1 on the road at Dayton on Monday (Aug. 31). Brandon Razo scored his first collegiate goal in the 14th minute. Razo led the Mastodons with two shots, while Karsten Ternes, Ben Hissrich, Davan Arias and Eason Haller each recorded a shot.

Poll
Purdue Fort Wayne was picked to finish fourth in the 2026 Horizon League Preseason Poll. The 'Dons were edged by Cleveland State (111), Green Bay (95) and league-newcomer Northern Illinois (92).

Coming Up
The Mastodons will conclude non-league action against Defiance on Wednesday (Sept. 9) at the Hefner Soccer Complex.

~ Feel the Rumble ~

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Davan Arias

Eason Haller

Ben Hissrich

Brandon Razo

Karsten Ternes

Purdue University Fort Wayne Athletics