WALTHAM, Mass. – For the third year in a row, Brandeis University senior midfielder Josh Ocel of North Attleboro, Massachusetts, has been selected as an All-American by the United Soccer Coaches (formerly the National Soccer Coaches Association of America). Additionally, senior back Sam Vinson of Lauderhill, Florida, and senior goalkeeper Ben Woodhouse of Suffield, Connecticut, were third-team All-New England regional selections by the United Soccer Coaches.
Ocel was a first-team All-American this year after being a second-team choice in 2015 and a third-team selection last season. He is the lone men's three-time All-American as selected by the United Soccer Coaches this year, and becomes Brandeis's first three-time choice by the coaches' organization. He has also earned two previous All-America honors from D3soccer.com, making him the most decorated men's soccer player in school history.
Ocel is Brandeis's leading scorer with four goals and 11 assists this season. After delivering assists in each of the Judges' first three NCAA Division III tournament games this season, he broke Brandeis's school record with 45 for his career. Ocel surpassed Rob Muller '77, whose mark of 44 had stood for more than 40 years and was established during the Judges' 1976 championship season. Earlier this season, Ocel became the second player in University Athletic Association men's soccer history to earn first-team honors four years in a row.
Vinson and Woodhouse anchor a Brandeis defense that ranks 19th in Division III in scoring defense this year, allowing just 13 goals in 21 games for an 0.59 goals-against average, while the team's 10 shutouts in 21 games ranks 41st in Division III. Vinson also added an assist on offense this season. Woodhouse in net ranks 13th in Division III in save percentage at .871 in and 17th in goals-against average at 0.57. He has seven individual shutouts and has been involved in two combined clean sheets. Woodhouse is second in Brandeis history in career wins with 39 and in shutouts with 23. He has recorded four-straight clean sheets in the NCAA Division III tournament. Both Vinson and Woodhouse were second-team All-University Athletic Association selections earlier this season.
The Brandeis University men's soccer team owns a 17-4 record and has advanced to the NCAA Division III Final Four for the second year in a row. The Judges, under first-year head coach Gabe Margolis, will meet Messiah (Pennsylvania) College this evening at 5 p.m. The game can be streamed live via NCAA.com at http://www.ncaa.com/championship/liveplayer/player?gameId=2648582&date=2017/12/01.
Ocel is a 2013 graduate of Worcester Academy.
Vinson is a 2014 graduate of American Heritage School.
Woodhouse is a 2014 graduate of Suffield High School.
For more information on Brandeis University men's soccer, please visit our home page at http://www.brandeisjudges.com/sports/msoc/.