Ohio Wesleyan University senior Brady West (Dublin/Columbus St. Charles) received a special award as part of the All-North Coast Athletic Conference men's soccer teams, it was announced today by the NCAC.

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

West was joined on the All-NCAC first team by senior forward Jaggar Brooker (Powell/Olentangy Liberty) and senior forward Franklin Rodriguez (Santiago, Dominican Republic/Berkshire (Mass.)).  Junior midfielder Ryan Betts (Columbus/Olentangy Berlin) and junior goalkeeper Sam Whitman (Baltimore, Md./Friends School of Baltimore) were second-team all-conference picks, and freshman back Alex Bucher (Centerville) and junior forward Christopher Guerra (Columbus/Worthington Kilbourne) won third-team recognition.

West, Betts, and Bucher were starters on an Ohio Wesleyan defense that ranks second in the league in fewest goals allowed (17) and scoring margin (+1.67 goals/game).  On the offensive end, West has contributed a goal and is tied for 20th in the NCAC in assists (3), while Bucher has scored one goal and is tied for second in the NCAC in assists (6).  West was a first-team All-NCAC selection for the third straight season.

Brooker leads the NCAC in assists (12), ranks second in points (28), and is tied for fifth in in goals (8).  Brooker was a first-team All-NCAC pick in 2023, a second-team all-conference selection in 2022, and was the league's Offensive Player of the Year and a first-team All-NCAC choice in 2021.

Rodriguez leads the Bishops and ranks third in the NCAC in points (22), is tied for third in in goals (9) and game-winning goals (2), and is tied for 11th in assists (4). Rodriguez was a third-team all-league honoree in 2023.

Whitman ranks second in the NCAC in goals-against average (.930) and saves percentage (.805) and has posted 4 shutouts this season.

Guerra is tied for third in game-winning goals (2), ranks ninth in goals (7), is tied for ninth in points (17), and is tied for 20th in assists (3).  Guerra was a first-team all-conference choice in 2023 and a second-team all-conference pick in 2022.

Ohio Wesleyan is 11-4-3 on the season.  The Battling Bishops shared the NCAC championship with  a 6-0-2 record.  Ohio Wesleyan will be making its NCAA-record 45th Division III tournament appearance on Saturday, when the Bishops face Catholic in a first-round game at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday in Fredericksburg, Va.