DALLAS (SMU) – No. 15 SMU Men's Soccer is set to host Stetson in its season opener at Washburne Stadium on Thursday.

The match will kick off shortly after the women's soccer team's game, which begins at 5 pm CT. It will be broadcast on ACCNX. Fans can enjoy free admission to every regular-season SMU Men's Soccer game.

The Mustangs are coming off a historic 2025 season where they won SMU's first ACC championship in the ACC tournament.

Mustangs vs. Hatters History

• This will be the third meeting between the Mustangs and the Hatters. First meeting since 2019.
• SMU played Stetson in two consecutive years in 2018 and 2019.
• The Mustangs won their first meeting 3-1 at Stetson in 2018 and won 5-0 at home in 2019.

Going into the 2026 Season

• SMU returns seven regular starters out of the 2025 starting eleven.
• Out of the 34 goals scored last season, 30 were scored by returners to this year's roster.
• Among the returners are Stephan Soghomonian (13 goals) and Jaylinn Mitchell (2026 MLS SuperDraft first round pick).
• The Mustangs added 15 additions through the spring and summer. There are 10 transfers and five freshmen.
• New signings include Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year, Noah Holmstrøm.

Preseason Awards

• SMU was ranked No. 15 in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll and was picked No. 4 in the Preseason ACC Poll.
• Noah Holmstrøm was named in the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List and United Soccer Coaches Defenders to Watch.
• Stephan Soghomonian was named in the ACC Preseason Watch List and was also included in the United Soccer Coaches Forwards to Watch.
• Soghomonian was ranked No. 19 and Jaylinn Mitchell was No. 35 in the TopDrawerSoccer Preseason Top 100 Player Ranking.

2025 Season Notes

• SMU won the school's first ACC Championship in the ACC tournament.
• The 2025 season marked the fourth consecutive season the Mustangs have earned a national seed and a first-round bye.
• The Mustangs were one of four ACC teams to secure a national seed in the 2025 NCAA Championships (Virginia, Stanford and NC State).
• SMU has won 11 conference tournament titles and a total of 32 conference titles.

NCAA Tournament By The Numbers

• Overall program history: 37 NCAA Tournament Appearances, 26 Sweet Sixteen Appearances, 14 Elite Eight Appearances, two College Cup appearances (2000 & 2005).
• Last season was Head Coach Kevin Hudson's eighth NCAA Championship appearance at the helm.
• SMU made its fifth Sweet Sixteen and second Elite Eight appearances under Head Coach Kevin Hudson in 2024.

Last Time At Home

• The Mustangs made their 37th NCAA Championship appearance as they fell 1-0 to the eventual national champions, Washington.
• Washburne Stadium saw a record attendance of 2367.

Scouting Stetson

• Stetson closed the 2025 season with a 6-8-3 overall record.
• Their offense was led by Zsombor Pall who tallied six goals.
• The Hatters played two ACC teams in 2025. Losing 1-0 to Virginia and falling 4-0 to NC State.

FIFA World Cup At Washburne Stadium

• Washburne Stadium was an official training ground for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.