AUSTINTOWN, Ohio – Senior forward Danny Ruple (Berea/Berea-Midpark) highlights the Baldwin Wallace University men's soccer All-Ohio Athletic Conference selections as he was named the OAC Forward of the Year, in addition to his fourth straight All-OAC honor and third consecutive first-team appearance.
Along with Ruple, senior goalkeeper Patrick Mehal (Richfield/Revere) and sophomore defender Trevor Hamm (Strongsville) also earned All-OAC honorable mentions.
Ruple's second OAC Forward of the Year Award, and first since in 2017, comes after leading his team in goals and points for the fourth straight season. This season, he amassed 17 goals and seven assists, for 41 points. Both of his 2019 goals and points totals handedly led the entire OAC as well. Ruple capped off his four-year BW career with 58 goals and 30 assists, for 146 points. All three career totals are Yellow Jackets men's soccer records, with both the goals and assists records being established in 2019. In addition to his career records, Ruple also owns the single-season goals and points marks, both of which coming in his first OAC Forward of the Year campaign in 2017. The accounting major, Dean's List student, Jacket Scholar, and two-time College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-American will earn his fourth varsity letter this fall.
Mehal earns his first career All-OAC award following a career year. Mehal started in all but one of BW's 20 games this season, and garnered a career-best win total and win percentage, with a record of 9-8 on the year. His 1.38 goals against average, 19 starts, and three shutouts had also marked career-bests. Mehal completes his senior season with a career record of 21-27-4, 1.95 goals against average, .712 save percentage, 10 shutouts, and having logged approximately 4706 minutes. The public health major will earn his fourth varsity letter this fall.
Hamm's All-OAC honorable mention is his second All-OAC accolade in as many years, having earned a second-team selection just one season prior. The senior defender posted career-highs of one goal, two points, and four shots on goal in 2019, and helped anchor a Yellow Jackets defense that accumulated seven shutouts, and limited opponents to 1.22 goals and 14.9 shots per game. The finance major and Dean's List student will earn his second varsity letter this fall.
BW finished the 2019 campaign with an overall record of 11-9 and a 4-5 mark within the OAC.
