DeLand, Fla. —Stetson women's soccer junior forward
Stella Comana was named to the Preseason All-ASUN Team, while the Hatters were picked to finish seventh in the 2026 ASUN Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll, the conference announced Monday.
Comana enters her third season with the Hatters following a strong sophomore campaign in which she established herself as one of Stetson's primary attacking threats. She started 15 of 16 matches in 2025, logging 1,272 minutes while recording 24 shots, including 16 on goal for a .667 shots-on-goal percentage. Comana also recorded an assist in Stetson's 2-1 victory over South Carolina State.
The preseason recognition adds to an already impressive start to Comana's collegiate career. As a freshman in 2024, she was named to the ASUN All-Freshman Team after making an immediate impact in her first season with the Hatters. Her continued development and consistent presence in the attacking third make her one of Stetson's key returners heading into the 2026 campaign.
"We're really proud of Stella to be recognized for preseason honors," Stetson head coach
Jamie Souza said. "It shows her application in training and development over the last couple of years, from being recognized on the All-Freshman Team in 2024. I'm really excited to see how she and the team flourish this season."
The Hatters finished the 2025 season 5-14 overall and 2-8 in ASUN play, earning victories over Gardner-Webb, South Carolina State, The Citadel and Queens twice. Stetson returns 16 players from last season's squad, including Comana,
Bianca Mazzaferro and
Payton Quinones, while welcoming 13 newcomers, including five transfers, to add depth and competition throughout the roster.
Entering his third season at the helm, head coach
Jamie Souza will look to build on the program's progress and lead the Hatters toward continued success in the ASUN Conference.
"Preseason polls are always pretty straightforward. You're only as good as your last game and last time out, and we were in that position, so it makes sense for the voting to go that way," Souza said. "We're excited to showcase our growth as a team and program, turn some heads and climb up the conference table. The only one that matters will be decided on October 31."
2026 Preseason All-ASUN Team
F - Maya Buisan Henley, FGCU
F - Allie Fekany, North Florida
F - Julia Delprat, Jacksonville
F - Stella Comana, Stetson
MF - Tatum Ahlemeyer, Lipscomb
MF - Paige McSwigan, North Florida
MF - Brynn Severance, Bellarmine
MF - Kate Friday, FGCU
D - Ryanne Robinson, FGCU
D - Paula Herranz, Jacksonville
D - Chloe Illiff, Lipscomb
GK - Anna Jenkins, Bellarmine
2026 Preseason Coaches Poll
Pl. Team (1st Place votes) Points
1. FGCU (2) 58
2. Lipscomb (4) 54
3. Jacksonville (1) 48
4. North Florida (1) 45
5. Bellarmine 30
6. Queens 24
7. Stetson 16
8. West Florida 13
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.
