Horizon League Reveals 2026 #HLMSOC Awards
Danielle Dyer
INDIANAPOLIS (November 6, 2026) – The Horizon League announced our 2026 #HLMSOC awards on Friday. All-League awards were voted on by the League’s head coaches.
Cleveland State midfielder Tom Mertz was named the Horizon League Player of the Year. Purdue Fort Wayne’s Brandon Razo earned Offensive Player of the Year honors. Milwaukee claimed three major awards, with Carson Pridie named Goalkeeper of the Year, Jack Wagner earning Defensive Player of the Year and Kris Kelderman securing Coach of the Year. Cleveland State’s Domenic Ruggiero was selected Freshman of the Year, while IU Indy’s Jago Thompson-Roberts received the League’s Sportsmanship Award.
Dig Deeper:
- Mertz totaled nine points in #HLMSOC play with two goals and five assists, leading the Vikings to another spot in the Championship.
- Razo totaled nine points in League play with four goals and one assist.
- Pridie allowed four goals in League matches with five shutouts, 43 saves and a .915 save percentage.
- Wagner anchored an MKE defense that allowed seven goals in ten League matches, adding two goals and one assist.
- Ruggiero scored four goals in League play for the Vikings in his first season at Cleveland State.
- The Sportsmanship Award recognizes student-athletes who have distinguished themselves through demonstrated acts of sportsmanship and ethical behavior. Sportsmanship is defined as behavior exhibited during competition by student-athletes based on values, respect and integrity.
- Thompson-Roberts serves as Vice President of the Horizon League Student-Athlete Advocacy Committee (SAAC), representing IU Indy at the League level. He also serves as President of IU Indy’s SAAC.
- Kelderman took the #HLMSOC Coach of the Year award after guiding the Panthers to a regular season title and 5-1-4 League record.
- Cleveland State and Milwaukee paced the League with three All-League First Team selections each.
- NIU posted two student-athletes on the All-League First Team.
- The Horizon League Men’s Soccer Championship kicks off on Sunday, Nov. 8 with two quarterfinal contests.
- No. 3 seed RMU hosts No. 6 seed Cleveland State at 1 p.m. ET and No. 4 seed NIU will welcome No. 5 seed Wright State at 2 p.m. ET/1 p.m. CT.
- On Wednesday, Nov. 11, the championship will move to Milwaukee and Purdue Fort Wayne.
- The first semifinal will see No. 1 seed Milwaukee square off against the worst remaining seed at 2 p.m. ET/1 p.m. CT with No. 2 seed Purdue Fort Wayne taking on the best remaining seed at 4 p.m. ET.
- Every match of the 2026 Horizon League Men’s Soccer Championship will be streamed live on ESPN+ and fans can also follow all the action on social media by following @HorizonLeague and the hashtags #HLMSOC and #OurHorizon.
- For complete championship information visit the #HLMSOC Championship Central page.
2026 Horizon League Men’s Soccer Award Winners
Player of the Year: Tom Mertz, Cleveland State
Offensive Player of the Year: Brandon Razo, Purdue Fort Wayne
Goalkeeper of the Year: Carson Pridie, Milwaukee
Defensive Player of the Year: Jack Wagner, Milwaukee
Freshman of the Year: Domenic Ruggiero, Cleveland State
Sportsmanship Award: Jago Thompson-Roberts, IU Indy
Coach of the Year: Kris Kelderman, Milwaukee
All-League First Team
Tom Mertz, Cleveland State, Midfielder
Lennhart Heck, Cleveland State, Defender
Domenic Ruggiero, Cleveland State, Forward
Carson Pridie, Milwaukee, Goalkeeper
Jack Wagner, Milwaukee, Defender
Dominic Zuniga, Milwaukee, Midfielder
Niko Angulo, NIU, Midfielder
Vance Sheffield, NIU, Forward
Zach Townsend, Oakland, Defender
Brandon Razo, Purdue Fort Wayne, Forward
Anelson Azard, RMU, Forward
All-League Second Team
Uzman Ramees, Cleveland State, Midfielder
Drew Pierson, Detroit Mercy, Defender
Oscar Arroyo, Green Bay, Defender
Noah Lechelt, Green Bay, Forward
Luka Vasic, NIU, Defender
Cal Kurzawa, Oakland, Forward
Jonny Hernandez, Purdue Fort Wayne, Midfielder
Karsten Ternes, Purdue Fort Wayne, Defender
Josh Lane, RMU, Goalkeeper
Maximillian Banfi, Wright State, Forward
Gabe Gotting, Wright State, Midfielder
Sportsmanship Award Finalists
Colin Monroe, Detroit Mercy
Jago Thompson-Roberts, IU Indianapolis*
Mitch Goodman, Milwaukee
Miguel Dominguez, RMU
Maximillian Banfi, WSU