SPARTANBURG, S.C. – In preparation of the men's soccer season, the Atlantic Sun Conference has released the preseason poll and the preseason all-conference team.

Stetson was selected as the A-Sun regular season and tournament champion.  The Hatters received six of a possible 10 first-place votes for the regular season crown, while receiving seven votes for the tournament crown.  Campbell was tabbed second with 78 total points and two first-place votes. 

Also receiving first-place votes were Florida Gulf Coast and ETSU.  Mercer, with 65 points rounded out the preseason top five.  Jacksonville, Lipscomb, North Florida, Belmont and USC Upstate rounded out the preseason poll.

Stetson midfielder, Fredrik Brustad was selected as the conference's preseason player of the year and he was joined on the preseason team by teammate Jonathon Mendoza.  ETSU, Mercer and Lipscomb also had two players selected to the A-Sun preseason team.

The Upstate men's soccer season will begin this Thursday night with an exhibition against Spartanburg Methodist College at 4:00 p.m. at the soccer practice fields.  The Spartans will then host Clemson in an exhibition match on Tuesday, Aug. 24 at County University Soccer Stadium.  Kickoff between the Spartans and the Tigers is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

Upstate will begin the regular season on Sept. 1, when it travels to Statesboro, Ga., to face the Georgia Southern Eagles at 4:00 p.m.

Atlantic Sun Preseason Poll

Tournament Champion: Stetson (seven votes)

First Team All-Atlantic Sun

* - Unanimous Selection

Preseason Player of the Year: Fredrik Brustad, MF, Stetson