Center Valley, PA (August 18, 2026) -- The DeSales University men's soccer team has been picked T-5th in the MAC Freedom preseason poll as released by the conference and voted on by the nine MAC Freedom coaches on Tuesday.  

DSU tied for fifth with FDU-Florham totaling 27 points each, one ahead of Delaware Valley University in seventh place. Stevens took home the top spot with 64 points and eight first place votes. Lebanon Valley College finished second, Misericordia University was selected third, and Arcadia University rounded out the top four.

The Bulldogs are coming off a 4-11-3 overall mark and a 1-4-2 record in the MAC Freedom last season.

Among the top returnees are junior Peter Cardinale who ranked second on the team in scoring with three goals and sophomore Jacob Stewart who led the Bulldogs with five assists.

Sophomore Landon Lentz returns after starting 16-of-18 games as a first-year student, junior Larry Sullivan is back in the lineup after also starting 16-of-18 games, and sophomore Nik Rohm returns on the defensive side having started 16-of-18 games.

Head Coach George Crampton returns for this 28th season as the all-time winningest coach in team history with 246 wins. He has a 246-215-45 (.531) career record and has led the Bulldogs to five MAC Freedom Championships and six NCAA Tournament appearances.

DeSales will open the 2026 season at home hosting Gwynedd-Mercy University on September 1st. Seven of DSU's first nine games are at home including hosting Salisbury University on Homecoming, September 26th. The MAC Freedom schedule begins on the road at FDU-Florham on October 3rd.

MAC Freedom Pre-Season Poll (first place votes)
1 - Stevens - 64 points (8)
2 - Lebanon Valley - 53 points
3 - Misericordia - 51 points
4 - Arcadia - 44 points
5t - DeSales - 27 points
5t - FDU-Florham - 27 points
7 - Delaware Valley - 26 points
8 - King's - 18 points
9 - Marywood - 14 points