Ohio Wesleyan University junior Mason Taylor (Marysville) and the Battling Bishop coaching staff received special awards as part of the All-North Coast Athletic Conference men's soccer teams, it was announced today.

Taylor, a goalkeeper, was named Defensive Player of the Year and was a first-team All-NCAC selection.

Senior midfielder Cristian Gomez (Columbus/St. Francis DeSales), senior back Ethan Marshall (Bexley/Columbus St. Charles), and sophomore back Brady West (Dublin/Columbus St. Charles) also were first-team All-NCAC choices, and junior forward Jaggar Brooker (Powell/Olentangy Liberty) and freshman forward Christopher Guerra (Columbus/Worthington Kilbourne) were second-team all-conference selections.

Taylor leads the NCAC and is tied for fifth among NCAA Division III players in shutouts (10), leads the NCAC and is tied for ninth nationally in saves percentage (.882), and ranks second in the NCAC and 14th nationally in goals-against average (0.545).

Gomez has compiled 2 goals and 3 assists while playing a variety of midfield roles this season.  He was a second-team all-league pick in 2021.

Marshall and West were starters in a Bishop defense that has allowed only 10 goals on the season, including only one in conference play, and ranks 15th in NCAA Division III in goals-against average (0.556).  Marshall was a first-team all-conference choice in 2021.

Brooker ranks second on the team and is tied for 17th in the NCAC in goals (4), all of which were game-winning scores to share the league lead in that category.  Brooker was a first-team All-NCAC selection and the league's Offensive Player of the Year in 2021.

Guerra leads the Bishops and is tied for third in the NCAC in goals (9), leads the team and ranks fifth in the conference in points (20), and shares the league lead with 4 game-winning goals.

The Ohio Wesleyan coaching staff also was honored, receiving the conference's Coaching Staff of the Year award.  Head coach Jay Martin, associate head coach Matt Weiss, and assistant coaches Corey Kirk and Chad Prickett were recognized.

Ohio Wesleyan is 10-4-4 on the season.  The Battling Bishops went 6-0-2 in NCAC competition, finishing second in the league standings, then won the NCAC tournament.  Ohio Wesleyan will be making its NCAA-record 43rd Division III tournament appearance on Saturday, when the Bishops face Penn State-Harrisburg in a first-round game at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday in Fredericksburg, Va.