• Complete United Soccer Coaches All-Region Teams (PDF)
Five OVC men's soccer players have been named to the United Soccer Coaches All-North Region Teams. The selections included one first-team, two second team and two third-team selections.
The picks were SIUE goalkeeper
Rob Gjelaj, SIUE defender
Nic Muench, SIUE midfielder
Yasha Schaerer, HCU defender
Sam Zeeman and UIW midfielder
Miles Merritt.
Gjelaj's selection makes the second straight year SIUE has had a first team pick. The grad transfer from Romeo, Michigan, started 19 games for SIUE during the season and earned recognition as the Goalkeeper of the Year in the Ohio Valley Conference. He finished the year with a 0.85 goals against average and an .838 save percentage, which currently ranks third in the NCAA. He made 83 total saves which is No. 8 in the country. Gjelaj recorded 10 shutouts during the season, which is second most in the country and ranks third in a single season for SIUE.
Muench played in 19 games, making 18 starts for SIUE. The senior from Heidelberg, Germany was named Most Valuable Player at the 2024 OVC soccer championship. He finished fifth on the team in scoring with nine points coming on three goals and three assists.
Schaerer led the team in scoring with 15 points coming on three goals and an OVC-leading nine assists. He ranked 17th in the NCAA in total assists. All three of his goals were game-winning tallies. The native of Zurich, Switzerland, was honored as the Midfielder of the Year in the OVC and named to the OVC All-Tournament team.
Zeeman was named the OVC Defensiver Player of the Year this season. The senior from The Hague, Netherlands has continued to be a staple of the defensive backline for HCU, having played all but 66 minutes this season after missing just one all of last year. He had three goals and one assist this season while leading a stingy defense that allowed just 19 goals in 20 matches.
Merritt was named All-OVC for the second consecutive season in helping his team to the OVC Tournament field. He started all 20 matches, playing 1,756 minutes and tallying tow goals and three assists.
United Soccer Coaches All-North Region Team
GK - Rob Gjelaj, SIUE (1st Team)
D - NIc Muench, SIUE (2nd Team)
MF - Yasha Schaerer, SIUE (2nd Team)
D - Sam Zeeman, HCU (3rd Team)
MF - Miles Merritt, UIW (3rd Team)