2024 Men's DI Postseason Awards

by TopDrawerSoccer

December 24, 2024

Last week, Vermont lifted the first national title in program history to end the 2024 men’s college soccer season.

That brings us to the TopDrawerSoccer post-season awards based on several factors, such as individual performance, statistical accomplishments, conference honors, and team success. Analyzing the entirety of the 2024 season, from kick-off in week one to the final whistle at the national championship game, here are your award winners for the men’s college soccer season.

The 2024 TopDrawerSoccer Player of the Year is Sam Bassett of Denver. An in-state product, the two-time Summit League Midfielder of the Year scored nine and assisted thirteen goals to lead the Pioneers to a regular season conference trophy and the second College Cup berth in program history. As he did all season, that monumental occasion was marked with a goal as Bassett curled a gorgeous effort into the top corner in an eventual loss to national champions Vermont. Whether navigating a brutal six-game road stretch to start the season, earning crucial conference victories, or delivering in the postseason, the senior midfielder was there every time the Pioneers needed a hero. A tight race came down to two other finalists in Michael Adedokun, who had a nearly identical impact for Ohio State, and Akron graduate senior Emil Jaaskelainen, who led the country with 23 goals to become the highest-scoring NCAA DI player of the 21st century with 66 total.

Ransford Gyan continues his dominant pre-professional career by winning the TopDrawerSoccer Freshman of the Year honor for the 2024 men’s college soccer season. This latest honor comes after a legendary high school career where the St. Benedict's Prep graduate became the first player to win the Gatorade National POTY twice. This fall, the ACC Freshman of the Year won several penalty kicks, scored five, and assisted six to help Clemson to a conference tournament final and NCAA Sweet Sixteen appearance. It did not always show up on the stat sheet, but no freshman impacted winning as much as Gyan did this season. The other finalists in consideration were Dean Boltz of Wisconsin, who ended the season with ten goals and four assists in 15 appearances, and Sergi Solans, a redshirt freshman who managed 14 goals as the WCC Offensive POTY for Oregon State.

Courtesy of an epic run to lead Vermont to its first-ever NCAA Championship, the TopDrawerSoccer coach of the year for the 2024 season is Rob Dow. Coining the saying that his team were dogs, not underdogs, the Catamounts backed up their head coach by winning five consecutive road games to lift the trophy with a story that captured the hearts of neutral supporters across the sports world.

The All-American teams are listed below.

TopDrawerSoccer Postseason Awards

Player of the Year: Sam Bassett, Denver

Freshman of the Year: Ransford Gyan, Clemson

Coach of the Year: Rob Dow, Vermont

Best XI Teams

First Team

F: Emil Jaaskelainen (Akron), Alex Harris (Cornell), Alec Hughes (Massachusetts)

M: Sam Bassett (Denver), Michael Adedokun (Ohio State), Daniel D'Ippolito (Fordham), Taimu Okiyoshi (Marshall)

D: Casper Svendby (Pittsburgh), Leo Burney (Penn), Zach Barrett (Vermont)

GK: Wessel Speel (Duke)

Second Team