RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – Senior Alex Laing was named the GAC/MIAA Defender of the Year for the second time, highlighting a program-high 11 All-GAC/MIAA selections for the Hillcat men's soccer, the league office announced Wednesday evening.


 
Seniors Brandon O'Rourke and Alex Fletcher led the 13 academic honorees after receiving the prestigious GAC/MIAA Elite Scholar Student-Athlete Award, which recognizes athletes with a 4.0 GPA and more than 70 completed credit hours.
 
FIRST TEAM SELECTIONS
Laing, a three-time All-GAC/MIAA selection, made history as the first-ever two-time GAC/MIAA Defensive Player of the Year. The team captain from London, England, has played 1,212 minutes across 16 matches, including 15 starts, and contributed eight points with three goals and two assists. He has contributed to eight shutouts and has helped limit opponents to 72 shots on goal in the regular season. In Week 2, Laing earned GAC/MIAA Defensive Player of the Week honors for the second time.
 
O'Rourke earned his second All-GAC/MIAA First Team selection and became a three-time honoree, with another second team honor last season. The Bartlesville, Oklahoma, native also received the GAC/MIAA Elite Scholar Student-Athlete Award for the second consecutive season. The senior has recorded 12 points this season, including four goals and four assists, while making 15 starts in 16 matches in his final season on the Hill.
 
Sam Ryder earned his second All-GAC/MIAA nod with a first team selection this season. The defender from Christchurch, New Zealand, has logged 1,432 minutes over 18 matches, including 17 starts, and contributed six points, including the equalizer against Fort Hays State, and two assists.


 
SECOND TEAM SELECTIONS
Tom Dixon was named to the All-GAC/MIAA Second Team, marking his second all-conference selection after receiving honorable mention last season. The senior from Wolverhampton, England, has played 624 minutes in 10 matches, including eight starts, and has recorded three points with a goal against Harding and an assist against Northeastern State.
 
Oliver Hemlin earned All-GAC/MIAA Second Team honors for the second straight season. The midfielder from Tring, England, has appeared in 10 matches, including eight starts, and recorded an assist against Southern Nazarene. 
 
Gian Filizzola earned All-GAC/MIAA Second Team honors in his first season with the Hillcats. The sophomore from Presidente Prudente, Brazil, has played 802 minutes in 18 matches with five starts, scoring three goals and providing five assists. He was named GAC/MIAA Defensive Player of the Week in Week 3.
 
Tristan Miller (9-4-4) was named to the second team, marking the true freshman's first All-GAC/MIAA selection. The Cape Town, South Africa, native has started 17 matches this season, posting a 0.82 goals-against average with seven shutouts and 54 saves. His outstanding performances have earned him GAC/MIAA Goalkeeper of the Week honors twice this season.


 
HONORABLE MENTION SELECTIONS
Senior Louis Bassett earned his third All-GAC/MIAA honor with an honorable mention selection in 2026. The Leicester, England, native has appeared in 15 matches with 13 starts, logging 843 minutes and tallying 12 points with four goals and four assists. He was named GAC/MIAA Offensive Player of the Week for the third time in his career in Week 7.
 
Fletcher received his first All-GAC/MIAA selection as an honorable mention. The senior from Pontefract, England, native, who serves as the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee President, also earned the GAC/MIAA Elite Scholar Student-Athlete Award. This season, he has played and started in 15 matches for 1,189 minutes, contributing a goal against McKendree and an assist against Maryville, which earned him GAC/MIAA Defender of the Week honors.
 
Freshman Mario Lopez Ayuso earned All-GAC/MIAA Honorable Mention honors in his inaugural campaign. The Avila, Spain, native has played in all 18 matches, including 12 starts, logging 932 minutes and totaling six points with two goals and two assists.
 
Ashton Medina became a two-time All-GAC/MIAA Honorable Mention selection this season. The midfielder from Frisco, Texas, has appeared in 14 matches with 11 starts for 801 minutes, collecting five points, including a goal against Rockhurst, and three assists.


 
GAC/MIAA All-ACADEMIC SELECTIONS
The conference released its GAC/MIAA Academic Honor Roll, recognizing student-athletes with at least one year of enrollment and a 3.5 GPA. The Hillcats had 13 players honored for their academic excellence: Alex Fletcher, Brandon O'Rourke, Sam Ryder, Hayden Parker. Casey Copenhaver, Oliver Hemlin, Alexander Frost, Jamie Kennedy, Grayson Horsley, Carson Copenhaver, Tom Dixon, Mason Largent and Jaxon Kendall.