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BRENTWOOD, Tenn. --- Houston Christian University pulled in a huge haul of hardware on Friday afternoon as the Ohio Valley Conference announced the postseason awards for its second season. The Huskies had seven different players capture honors, led by Sam Zeeman as Defensive Player of the Year and Morgan Worsfold-Gregg as Freshman of the Year.
 
The All-OVC first team included both Zeeman and Worsfold-Gregg, who were joined by Ryan Okerayi, a first-teamer for the second straight season. Alex Aitken, Ethan Giwa-McNeil and D'Alessandro Herrera were chosen to the All-OVC second team, while Worsfold-Gregg was also named to the OVC All-Newcomer team alongside Theo Butterworth.
 
Zeeman becomes just the fourth HCU player ever to capture a end-of-season Player of the Year honor. He joins teammate Herrera, who was selected the OVC Midfielder of the Year last season, as well as 2010 ASC Player of the Year Lorne Cameron and Carlos Gill, who was selected as the Trans America Conference Player of the Year four consecutive years from 1982-85.
 
The senior from The Hague, Netherlands has continued to be a staple of the defensive backline for HCU, having played all but 66 minutes this season after missing just one all of last year. He had two goals and one assist this season while leading a stingy defense that allowed just 16 goals in 18 matches and a paltry .103 shot percentage. It is the first honor of his career.
 
Worsfold-Gregg becomes the second straight Husky to earn the nod for Freshman of the Year, following Okerayi from last year's inaugural OVC campaign. It is just the third in school history, with the other belonging to Kristopher Trypak, who was selected ASC Rookie of the Year in 2010.
 
Winding down his rookie campaign, Worsfold-Gregg has been a solid and steady force in the midfield and forward for the Huskies. The London, England native has started all 15 games he has played, and finished the regular season with two goals and two assists. His 75th minute header off a corner leveled Lindenwood on October 17.
 
He was also named to the All-Newcomer team, where he was joined by fellow freshman Theo Butterworth, who picks up his first career honor as well. The defender from Lancaster, England formed a formidable pair with Zeeman as a physical presence and adept passer out of the back.
 
Ryan Okerayi adds to his trophy case by earning his third OVC honor in two years. The sophomore from Houston followed up a stellar rookie year that saw him named to the First Team and as Freshman of the Year, by being named to the first team once again.
 
A physical front man in the offense, Okerayi leads the team in goals, assists and points. He ranks third in the league with his five goals, fifth with five assists and third with 15 points. He had three game-winners on the season, including a 78th minute steal and smash against UTRGV and a goal straight out of the half to hand league champion SIUE its only loss in two years of OVC play.
 
Okerayi also scored the fastest goal in school history when he hit the back of the net at the stroke of the first minute in an October 3 win over Western Illinois. He is the first player to earn back-to-back conference first team honors since Duke Ogega was named by the ASC in 2009 and 2010.
 
Alex Aitken earns his first OVC postseason honor with his inclusion on the second team. It the second career honor for the netminder as he was named to the WAC All-Freshman team in 2022. He has proven his mettle in this his junior season, sporting a 7-4-5 overall mark with a minuscule 0.75 goals against average, which is first in the OVC and 11th in the NCAA. He is one of just two keepers in the league with a sub 1.00 GAA on the season.
 
The Great Barford, England native has made 16 starts and allowed just 12 goals, making 57 saves while facing 136 total shots. He has posted seven shutouts, six coming in league play to rank second in the conference and 11th in the NCAA in that category as well. He is just seven saves shy of tying former HCU keeper and later head coach Benny Agosto for second place all-time, and his 11 career shutouts ties him for second all-time with Christopher Dodd.
 
Ethan Giwa-McNeil picks up his first career accolade with second team honors after starting all 17 games he's featured. The senior captain is tied with Okerayi for the team lead in goals with five, and is second with four assists.
 
He has ranked in the top five of the league in shots and shots on goal all season, and is tied for fifth in the OVC in points scored. The London, England product picked up one game-winner as well, as his 76th minute screamer gave HCU a 2-1 win over rival Incarnate Word in the conference opener.
 
D'Alessandro Herrera rounds out the Huskies honored for 2024, picking up All-Conference accolades for the second straight season and postseason honors for the third consecutive year. He was named to the WAC All-Freshman team in 2022, and was last season's OVC Midfielder of the Year.
 
The Houston native changed roles in his third season on Fondren Road, but still managed three goals and two assists on the season while making 13 starts in 16 games. His penalty kick in the 85th minute equalized Omaha 2-2. He is now tied for third all-time in shots on goal, and ranks 10th on HCU's all-time leaderboard in assists with 15.   
 
"We are extremely proud of all these young men, who are so deserving of these honors. They have worked extremely hard all season to help us get where we are right now, and to be recognized by the rest of the league for their efforts is a testament to that." – Head Coach Ryan Pratt
 
Other major accolades in the league went heavily to league champ SIUE, as they claimed the Midfielder (Yasha Schaerer), Goalkeeper (Rob Gjelaj) and Coach of the Year (Cale Wasserman). Liberty's Michael Huss, the league leader in goals and points, was named the Forward of the Year.
 
HCU ended the regular season campaign at 7-6-5 overall and 5-2-3 in the OVC to finish ahead of Liberty, UIW and Western Illinios in their four-team pod. That earned the Huskies a first-round bye and a spot in the semifinals just one season after not qualifying for the tournament in the OVC's first season.
 
The Huskies will play at 3 pm on November 13 against the winner of Lindenwood and Western Illinois. Action in the tournament begins on Sunday with the two quarterfinal matches. SIUE will host the entire tournament at Ralph Korte Stadium in Edwardsville for the second straight season. The semifinals are on Wednesday with the championship match slated for Saturday, November 16.
 
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