DELAND, Fla. – The Stetson Hatters men's soccer team will kick off its 2025 season on the road Thursday evening when they take on the Penn State Nittany Lions at 5:00 p.m. in State College, Pa.
The Hatters are coming off a 2024 campaign in which they captured the ASUN Regular Season Championship for the first time since 2017. Stetson finished the year 5-6-6 overall but went unbeaten in league play with a 3-0-4 mark. As a result, the Hatters were selected to finish third in the ASUN Preseason Coaches' Poll.
While Stetson will look to replace the production of 2024 ASUN Player of the Year Charles Ahl, now playing professionally for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, the squad returns 22 players from last year's roster. Among the returners is ASUN Goalkeeper of the Year Nicolo Radaelli, who anchored the Hatters' defensive unit with three clean sheets last season. Senior midfielder Andres Mata was tabbed to the 2025 Preseason All-ASUN Team after scoring five goals and tallying 11 points last fall, tying Maurice Hauser for the team lead.
Penn State begins its new season under head coach Jeff Cook after a 5-9-2 record in 2024. The Nittany Lions were picked 10th in the Big Ten Preseason Coaches' Poll, but the league spotlighted midfielder Malick Daouda, midfielder Caden Grabfelder, and forward Kai Phillip as players to watch. Grabfelder ranked second on the team with four goals last season, while Phillip, a graduate transfer from Evansville, adds veteran experience to the Penn State attack.
Kickoff is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. Thursday at Jeffrey Field. The match will be streamed live on B1G+, and live stats are available at GoPSUSports.com.
About Stetson Athletics
At Stetson University, student-athletes don't just compete—they thrive. Located in historic DeLand, Florida, between Orlando and Daytona Beach, Stetson offers the perfect blend of competitive athletics, academic excellence, and an unbeatable Central Florida lifestyle. As the oldest private university in the region, Stetson supports approximately 500 student-athletes across 19 NCAA Division I sports. Nicknamed the "Hatters" after the institution's namesake John B. Stetson, a hat manufacturer who originated the modern-day cowboy hat, most Stetson athletic teams compete in the Atlantic Sun Conference, where they proudly hold the longest active membership since 1985. With top-tier facilities, personalized support, and a welcoming campus community, Stetson is where students can grow, compete, and succeed. Learn more at GoHatters.com or follow social media accounts @StetsonHatters.
