PITTSBURGH -- Point Park men's soccer is set to host Seton Hill in the 2026 season opener on Thursday. Kick-off is slated for 7 p.m. from F.N.B. Stadium.

The Pioneers were picked to place second in the Mountain East Conference North Division, having received 33 points - 3 shy of Davis & Elkins. Point Park received four of the 10 first-place votes in the preseason poll.

"It's great that our program is getting that recognition, we've been building toward that over the last two years," said Head Men's Soccer Coach Cameron Williams, "but at the end of the day it's just coach's opinions. We have to go out and still do the work to accomplish it."

Point Park qualified for the MEC Tournament in 2025 and will feature a revamped squad in 2026, but they do return seven players who appeared in 10+ matches last season: Edouard Gagnon (18 matches played), Lorenzo Grispello (17), Capponi (17), Nikolai Tjoestheim (17), Azavier Coppin (15), Guilherme Galvao (13) and Rocco Domenighini (13). 

Grispello ranked fifth on the 2025 team in points, and he finished ninth in the MEC in shots (30) and eighth in shots on goal (16). 

Williams was faced with the challenge of building a team identity with so many moving parts and improving upon a successful 2025 campaign. 

"This preseason has been about building relationships," Williams said. "They've done a really good job connecting with each other … We want to continue to see how that grows. 

"This is a new group, this is a new team," Williams added, "but the character and what we stand for at Point Park is still the same … these guys are buying into what we're trying to accomplish this season. They're full on board." 

The Pioneers will continue their four-game homestand on Sunday in a matchup with D'Youville at 4 p.m. Point Park will host Thomas More on Wednesday, Sept. 2, at 5:30 p.m. and Wheeling on Sunday, Sept. 6, at 3:30 p.m. in MEC play.