WALTHAM, Mass. – Two Brandeis University soccer players have added an additional accolade to their trophy cases. Senior defender Michaela Friedman of Port Jefferson Station, N.Y., of the women's team and senior midfielder Josh Ocel of North Attleboro, Mass., of the men's squad, have each been selected as D3Soccer.com All-Americans for the second year in a row.
For Friedman, a third-team selection, this was the third All-America honor of her career, having been named All-American by the NSCAA this year in addition to her previous D3soccer.com award. Friedman, who previously earned first-team All-New England honors from the NSCAA and the ECAC as well as from the University Athletic Association, anchored a Brandeis defense that held opponents to a 0.66 goals-against average and picked up 13 shutouts in 24 contests on the season. A dangerous threat on free kicks, she also contributed her first career goal and three assists.
Friedman helped the Judges turn in the most successful campaign in Brandeis women's soccer history, posting a 16-4-4 record and reaching the Final Four of the NCAA Division III tournament for the first time. Brandeis was ranked seventh nationally in the final D3Soccer.com poll.
Ocel was named a second-team selection by D3soccer.com for the second year in a row. He has also been twice named an All-American by the NSCAA. Ocel anchored the Brandeis midfield and was the team's leading scorer with six goals and 15 assists for 27 points. His 15 assists were fifth in all of Division III men's soccer, while his 0.71 assists per game were sixth. Ocel finished one helper shy of Brandeis's single-season record. After three seasons at Brandeis, Ocel ranks second on the team's career list with 34 assists. After missing his rookie season to injury, he will return in 2017 after receiving a medical hardship season. Ocel also earned first-team All-New England, All-University Athletic Association (UAA) and Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) honors.
Ocel helped the Brandeis men finish with a 13-6-4 record as they reached the NCAA Division III Final Four for the fourth time and first since 1984. The Judges were ranked fifth in the final D3soccer.com poll.