DeLand, Fla. ? Four members of the Stetson men's soccer team have earned Atlantic Sun Preseason All-Conference honors and the Hatters have been picked to finish third in the 10-team league in 2008. Senior midfielder Kirk Labusch (Brandon, Fla.), junior defender Robert Hodge (Devon, England), sophomore defender Miguel Rodrigues (Johannesburg, South Africa) and sophomore forward Eugene Starikov (Palm Harbor, Fla.) all picked up preseason accolades.
The Hatters (84 points), who finished 11-5-2 overall last season and tied for second in the conference with a 9-2-1 league record, were projected to take third place behind defending tournament champions Campbell (95) and reigning regular season titlists Jacksonville (88). Stetson received one first place vote while the Camels got seven and the Dolphins earned a pair. North Florida was predicted to finish fourth with 57 points, followed by Florida Gulf Coast (49), Belmont (48), Lipscomb (47), USC Upstate (28) and a tie between ETSU and Mercer (27 each).
LaBusch was a First Team All-Atlantic Sun Team honoree last season while Hodge is coming off a Second Team selection a year ago. Both Rodrigues and Starikov were named to the 2007 A-Sun All-Freshman Team. Campbell midfielder Richard Jata was named Preseason Player of the Year.
Stetson will host Florida Southern in its exhibition opener this Saturday, August 16 at 2 p.m. at the Stetson Soccer Complex. After another home exhibition against Rollins one week later, the Hatters will open the 2008 regular season at home against Webber International at 5 p.m. August 29.
