KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Wheaton College men's soccer player Gael Vera (Westminster, Mass.) was named to the United Soccer Coaches All-America Third Team, while Aidan Doyle (Kingston, Mass.) was named to the Fourth Team, it was announced today by the United Soccer Coaches.
Vera and Doyle become the first Lyons to earn All-America status since 2014 when Luke Finkelstein '15 and Travis Blair '15 were both selected in 2014.
Vera's nod caps a season that saw him named as the New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference Men's Soccer Athlete of the Year as well as spots on the NEWMAC All-Conference and USC All-Region II First Teams. He emerged as one of the most dangerous scoring threats in Division III this past season. The relentless winger showed a unique ability to create shooting space for himself in a sea of defenders through instinct, agility and control that allowed him to finish fourth in the league with nine goals and 23 points and third with five assists. The sophomore did most of his damage against conference foes, topping the conference with six goals and 13 points in NEWMAC matches. The forward notched at least one point in 11 different games and strung together a streak of five straight matches with a goal to match the longest goal-scoring streak for a Lyon since 2016. The Oakmont Regional High School graduate earned NEWMAC Offensive Athlete of the Week honors twice and preserved Wheaton's unbeaten record in league play with a goal late in the second half to give the Lyons a 1-1 tie at United States Coast Guard Academy on October 25.
For his career, the Marketing major has started 32 of 40 matches, while netting 11 goals to go with six assists to give him 28 points.
Doyle was one of the most potent offensive players in the nation, especially as a playmaker, ranking seventh in NCAA Division III with 11 assists. His assist total is the fourth-most in a season in school history and the highest count since Barry Finnerty's school-record mark of 18 in 2003. Doyle boasted the triple crown of offensive stats in the NEWMAC, leading all players in points with 33, goals with 11 and assists. His point total placed him 40th among the nation's leaders. The Thayer Academy graduate was one of the most dangerous players on the service, setting up goals from the corner flag on a consistent basis, but also showing great vision on the open field as well. The senior seemed to get better with the competition, factoring in all three goals of a 3-3 tie at No. 18 Brandeis University on October 28 with a pair of goals and an assist, while assisting on the lone goal of a 1-0 victory to clinch the New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference title at Babson College on October 28. Doyle continued his big-time presence with a goal in each of the first two rounds of the NCAA Championship Tournament, including the game-winning strike off a corner kick in a 1-0 win over No. 14 Middlebury College on November 16. He also assisted on the game-winning tally in a 1-0 triumph over Macalester College in the NCAA Sweet Sixteen on November 22. All told, Doyle notched at least one point in 13 of 23 games – all starts, while factoring into multiple goals on six occasions. His longest stretch during the season without a point was only three contests, while enjoying a four-game stretch from September 6-16 that saw him rack up 12 points on five goals and two assists. In addition he was named the NEWMAC Offensive Athlete of the Week twice during the campaign.
The midfielder transferred to Wheaton prior to the 2024 season and since then has started 38 of 40 games, while netting 14 goals to go with 13 assists to give him 41 points. In addition, the Bay State native also saw action in 12 matches for Division I Stonehill University before becoming a Lyon.
Wheaton finished the season with one of the greatest runs in school annals. The Lyons posted a 17-2-4 record to go with a No. 8 national ranking in the most recent United Soccer Coaches national poll. Wheaton's season came to an end in the NCAA Division III Quarterfinals with a 2-0 loss at No. 4 St. Olaf College, following three victories in the NCAA Tournament. The Lyons claimed the NEWMAC Regular Season crown with a 7-0-1 record and finished the regular season with an unbeaten mark for the first time in school history. Wheaton earned its 10th NCAA Tournament berth and hosted the first and second rounds in Norton. In addition, the Lyons were led by the NEWMAC Men's Soccer Coaching Staff of the Year.
