Rafa Rios was named the 2026 Atlantic Sun Conference Defensive Player of the Year on Nov. 5, highlighting a conference-best eight postseason selections for University of North Florida men’s soccer. North Florida also secured the 2026 ASUN Regular Season title and the No. 1 seed in the 2026 ASUN Championship. Rios became the third ASUN Defensive Player of the Year in North Florida program history.
North Florida placed seven players on the First and Second Team All-ASUN squads, the most of any team in the conference. Senior forward Mark Romano, senior midfielder Anton Khelil and senior defender Mikhail Keise earned First Team selections. Fifth-year goalkeeper Luciano Natoli, junior forward Kaiss Mansouri and senior midfielder Tyler Prebenda earned Second Team honors, while freshman forward Emir Trto received ASUN All-Freshman recognition.
North Florida sets conference marks
North Florida finished 11-4-3 overall and 7-0-1 in ASUN play. The Ospreys’ 22 conference points were the most in program history and the most by a conference program since 2010. Their seven ASUN victories were also a program record and tied the most by a conference program since 2010.
The postseason recognition followed a season in which North Florida led the ASUN with 13 weekly awards. The regular-season title gave the Ospreys the top seed for the conference championship. The program reached those marks in Marlon Montanella’s first year at the helm.
North Florida to host ASUN Championship
North Florida will host the 2026 ASUN Championship at Hodges Stadium from Nov. 7-14. The No. 1 seed earned a bye to the semifinals and will await the winner of Stetson and Bellarmine. That semifinal is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 9, at 7 p.m. ET.
FSB Take
North Florida enters its home championship as the ASUN regular-season champion and No. 1 seed. The eight postseason selections, including Rios’ defensive player of the year honor, reflect the breadth of the team’s conference recognition. The semifinal bye gives the Ospreys a direct path into the final four at Hodges Stadium.
Source: Original report