DeLAND, Fla. — Stetson men's soccer senior forward Zsombor Pall and junior midfielder Benjamin Donato were named to the 2026 Preseason All-ASUN Team, while the Hatters were selected second in the conference's preseason coaches poll, the Atlantic Sun Conference announced Tuesday afternoon.
Stetson received 59 points and one first-place vote, finishing behind preseason favorite North Florida, which earned 79 points and eight first-place votes. The second-place selection marks Stetson's highest preseason ranking under head coach Emmett Rutkowski and its highest placement in the conference's preseason poll since being picked first in 2010.
FGCU was picked third with 51 points, followed closely by Bellarmine with 50 and Lipscomb with 47. Jacksonville, Central Arkansas, Queens and West Georgia rounded out the nine-team poll.
Pall returns after a standout first season in DeLand in 2025. The Nyíregyháza, Hungary, native led Stetson with six goals and finished with 12 points across 16 appearances, earning Second Team All-ASUN honors at the conclusion of the season. He scored twice in Stetson's 4-1 regular-season finale against North Florida and added the equalizer in the Hatters' 2-1 ASUN Championship quarterfinal victory over Central Arkansas.
Donato earns preseason recognition after establishing himself as one of Stetson's most dependable midfielders over his first two seasons.
The Fort Myers, Florida, native started 14 of his 15 appearances in 2025 and logged 1,169 minutes. Donato enters his junior campaign with 27 career appearances, 23 starts and 2,033 minutes played. He was also named to the ASUN All-Freshman Team in 2024.
The duo gives Stetson two representatives on the 12-player Preseason All-ASUN Team. A tie in voting resulted in the expanded preseason squad.
North Florida collected all three preseason major awards. Anton Khelil was named Preseason Player of the Year, Paul Schacherer earned Preseason Defensive Player of the Year honors and Luciano Natoli was the unanimous Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year.
Stetson enters 2026 after reaching the ASUN Championship semifinals last fall. The Hatters return an experienced group while welcoming 13 newcomers to the 28-player roster.
The 2026 campaign begins Thursday night in Dallas when Stetson visits No. 15 SMU, the defending ACC champion. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET at Washburne Soccer and Track Stadium.
2026 Preseason All-ASUN Team
F — Johan Nissen-Lie, Bellarmine
F — Zsombor Pall, Stetson
F — Geraldo Neto, North Florida
F — Maxim Sheenkov, Central Arkansas
F — Kaiss Mansouri, North Florida
MF — Anton Khelil, North Florida
MF — Tyler Prebenda, North Florida
MF — Benjamin Donato, Stetson
D — Paul Schacherer, North Florida
D — Rafa Rios, North Florida
D — Iver Skorve, Jacksonville
GK — Luciano Natoli, North Florida
A tie in voting resulted in a 12-person Preseason All-ASUN Team.
Luciano Natoli was a unanimous selection.
2026 ASUN Preseason Coaches Poll
1. North Florida (8) — 79
2. Stetson (1) — 59
3. FGCU — 51
4. Bellarmine
— 50
5. Lipscomb — 47
6. Jacksonville — 44
7. Central Arkansas — 39
8. Queens — 21
9. West Florida — 15
First-place votes in parentheses.
Fans can stay up to date with Stetson Men's Soccer throughout the 2026 season by visiting GoHatters.com and following @StetsonMSoccer/@StetsonMSOC and @StetsonHatters on social media.
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.
