GREENWOOD, Ind. — Utah Valley men's soccer placed a team-record six athletes on the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District® team, CSC announced in a release on Tuesday.

To qualify, student-athletes must post a 3.5 cumulative GPA and appear in 90% of their team's games, or start at least two thirds of their team's contests. Each team is allowed a maximum of six players on the Academic All-District team, and they must be at least a sophomore athletically. 

Of the six, four earned the first Academic All-District honors of their collegiate careers. Among the first-time honorees were Omar Yehya, Tom Dobek-Pietrowski, Keith Willey, and Keegan Oyler. Nate Kovalcik and Manuel Cordeiro each earned their second Academic All-District honors after earning the award last season at their previous schools. 

Yehya, a redshirt senior forward from Redlands, Calif., put up impressive numbers both on the field and in the classroom. Yehya scored a team-best 12 goals this season — setting the school record for most goals in a regular season — and has posted a 4.0 cumulative GPA while majoring in Business.

Dobek-Pietrowski, a graduate defender from Düsseldorf, Germany, capped off his collegiate career with another stellar season. Dobek-Pietrowski was the lone outfield player to start every single game in 2024, and played all but 51 minutes this season. Dobek-Pietrowski and the UVU defense combined to post a 1.12 goals-against average in 2024, tied for the best in the WAC at the end of the regular season. Dobek-Pietrowski finished his MBA last spring with a 3.72 cumulative GPA.

Willey, a junior defender from Newcastle, Calif., majoring in Business & Analysis, had a breakout season for the Wolverines this year. Willey was a key contributor on the Utah Valley back line, starting 15 games, including all but one in WAC play. Willey also played the full 90 in the final five games of the season and six of the last seven, during which the Wolverines allowed just four goals. Willey scored his first two collegiate goals against his hometown clubs in Sac State and UC Davis at the start of the 2024 season. 

Oyler, a redshirt sophomore defender from Meridian, Idaho, bounced back from injury with a strong 2024 campaign. After missing the entire 2023 season, Oyler appeared in 17 of the team's 18 games with 13 starts. Of those 13 starts, Oyler played the full 90 in seven of them. Oyler has posted a 4.0 cumulative GPA while majoring in Business Management.

Kovalcik, a senior defender from Redlands, Calif., earned the second CSC Academic All-District honor of his career after earning it last season at Biola. Kovalcik combined with fellow Redlands native Yehya on his goal and assist this season — assisting on Yehya's goal against UCSD and heading home Yehya's cross against Utah Tech. Kovalcik appeared in 16 games in 2024 with five starts, and has posted a 3.67 cumulative GPA while majoring in Communications.

Cordeiro, a junior midfielder from Serra del Rei, Portugal, appeared in 17 games with 8 starts. Cordeiro earned his second Academic All-District honors after winning the award in 2023 at Monroe College while also earning NJCAA All-America and CSC Academic All-America honors. Cordeiro scored his first goal as a Wolverine against Air Force, a picture-perfect set piece to secure a 2-0 win. Cordeiro has posted a 3.81 cumulative GPA while majoring in University Studies. 

The 2024 Academic All-District® Men's and Women's Soccer Teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.

Yehya and Dobek-Pietrowski will advance to the CSC Academic All-America® ballot. First-, second and third-team Academic All-America® honorees will be announced December 10.