By: Evan O'Kelly, Associate Commissioner for Communications

PORTLAND, Ore. – Upon the completion of the 2024 men’s soccer season, both the D2 Conference Commissioners Association and the United Soccer Coaches announced their all-region selections, while College Sports Communicators announced its academic all-district selections.
 
The D2CCA all-region teams were selected via a vote among the region’s media relations and communications directors. The USC all-region teams were selected via a vote among the region’s soccer coaches.
 
A total of 10 GNAC men’s soccer players were selected to the all-region teams, including a pair of first-team selections. GNAC Player of the Year Raymundo Mendez of Seattle Pacific and first-team all-conference midfielder Yahir Ocampo Navarro of Western Oregon represented the conference as first-team picks by the D2CCA, while Ocampo Navarro was also a USC first-team all-region selection. Mendez led the GNAC with 13 goals scored in 17 games played this fall, and was a unanimous first-team all-conference selection. Mendez earned second-team all-region recognition from the USC. Ocampo Navarro ranked third in the league with eight goals and tied for fourth in the league with five assists. The sophomore helped lead the Wolves (14-5-1, 9-3 GNAC) to their first-ever GNAC title, first-ever NCAA regional berth and first-ever NCAA playoff victory.
 
Three more Wolves garnered second-team all-region from the D2CCA, while two players from Western Washington and one from Montana State Billings also represented the GNAC on the second team. WOU defenders Caleb Kiner, who was the GNAC Newcomer of the Year, and Ethan Fisher each got the nod on the second team after helping WOU to a GNAC-second best goals-against average of 1.25. Fisher started all 20 matches and played a team-high 1,699 minutes, while Kiner made 19 starts and logged 1,614 minutes. WOU goalkeeper Andre Schlaefli, who was voted the GNAC Defensive Player of the Year, also earned second-team honors after tying for the GNAC lead with five shutouts and ranking second in the conference with a goals-against average of 1.25.
 
From Western Washington, forward Eric Bunnell, midfielder Kaydin Wall and defender Sebastiano Silvetti, a pair of first-team all-conference picks, each appeared on the second-team all-region list. Wall started all 18 matches for WWU, leading the team with seven assists while adding four goals for 15 total points in his final collegiate campaign. Silvetti, a sophomore, made 16 starts and logged 1,287 minutes on a back line that conceded a GNAC-best 1.06 goals per game. WWU finished as the runner-up with 25 points in the GNAC standings, going 10-5-3 overall and 8-3-1 in league play.
 
The Yellowjackets’ all-region representative was newcomer So Nagano, who led the team and ranked second in the conference with 11 goals. Nagano garnered first-team all-GNAC honors, after scoring nine of his 11 goals during conference play. The junior from Kobe, Japan had a pair of game-winning goals and ranked fourth in the GNAC with 2.11 shots per game.
 
Academic All-District (selected by College Sports Communicators)
A total of 17 GNAC men’s soccer players were recognized on the D2CSC Academic All-District team. To be eligible for the award, players must hold a cumulative GPA of 3.50 and participate in 90% of their team’s games during the season. Players who make the all-district team are eligible to be nominated for the CSC Academic All-America team, which will be announced on Dec. 10.
 
Selections from GNAC schools
Montana State Billings: Bjarne Fedkenhauer; Jack Jarrett; George Jones.
Northwest Nazarene: Kobe Avila; Alex Barragan; Johnny Ramirez; Sullivan Smith.
Seattle Pacific: Jackson Goode; Isaac Ketcham; Christopher Soto; Connor Tollan.
Simon Fraser: Aaron Colbourne; Jordan Thorsen.
Western Oregon: Yahir Ocampo Navarro.
Western Washington: Albin Jonsson; Sebastiano Silvetti; Joar Tidblom.