UPDATE, Dec. 18: Ocel earns three All-America awards

WALTHAM, Mass. – Brandeis University senior forward Sam Ocel of North Attleboro, Mass., has earned three different All-America honors for his performance in the 2012 season. Ocel, who previously was selected as a third-team Division III All-American by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), was more recently named a first-team member by D3Soccer.com. Ocel also earned second-team Scholar All-America honors from the NSCAA this week. 

Ocel, who was named the University Athletic Association Player of the Year, helped the Brandeis men to an 18-3-1 record and final ranking of No. 13 in Division III by the NSCAA. The Judges qualified for their first NCAA Division III tournament since 1985 and reached the Sweet 16 with wins over Baruch, 2-0, and Vassar, 1-0, before falling to Final Four participant Williams, 1-0, in the sectionals. Ocel accounted for all three Brandeis goals in the post-season including the winner over Vassar with 29.4 seconds left in regulation. He ended up leading the UAA with 34 points and finishing second with 13 goals. Nine of his 13 tallies were game-winners to lead the conference, including three in UAA play.

Ocel ended the 2012 season 15^th on Brandeis's career scoring list with 23 goals and 19 assists for 65 points. He is the sixth different Brandeis player to be named All-American by the NSCAA and fifth under head coach Mike Coven, but the program's first All-American since 1996. After missing his sophomore campaign with an injury, Ocel will return in 2013 with an additional year of eligibility.

Ocel owns a 3.41 grade-point average as a biology and Health: Science Society and Policy double major. He has twice been named Academic All-UAA and was an Academic All-District selection by CoSIDA earlier this year.

Click here for the complete list of NSCAA Division III Men's Soccer All-Americans: http://www.nscaa.com/awards/all-america/2012-ncaa-d3m-all-america

Click here for the complete list of D3soccer.com All-Americans: http://www.d3soccer.com/awards/all-america/2012/2012-Mens-AA

Click here for the complete list of NSCAA College Division Scholar All-Americans: http://www.nscaa.com/awards/college/2012-men-s-scholar-all-america--college-division

Ocel is a 2009 graduate of No. Attleboro, Mass. He is the son of Jeffrey and Pamela Ocel, No. Attleboro, Mass.

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