EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana junior midfielder Jaron Frye (Tulsa, Oklahoma) was named an Ohio Valley Conference Player to Watch for the 2024 season. The OVC Players to Watch are nominated by institution head coaches.
Frye, who was redshirted last season, came to USI from Northern Oklahoma College where he was the leading scorer by scoring 11 goals in 27 matches over two seasons (2021, 2022).
The Screaming Eagles also were selected to place eighth in the OVC this season. USI was 1-6-3 in the inaugural OVC season, missing the post-season tournament, and finished the year 2-12-3 overall. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville was predicted to win the OVC in 2024, collecting 11 of the 16 first place votes.
USI concludes the 2024 preseason schedule Saturday with an exhibition game versus Bradley University at Strassweg Field. The Eagles open the regular season August 22 with a visit to Butler University and starts the fall home schedule September 14 when Bellarmine University comes to Strassweg Field.
At the end of the season, the top six teams in the standings will qualify for the 2024 OVC Men’s Soccer Championship Tournament, which will take place November 10, 13 & 16 on the campus of SIUE in Edwardsville, Illinois.
2024 OVC Players to Watch:
Sam Eccles, Eastern Illinois
D’Alessandro Herrera, Houston Christian
Miles Merritt, Incarnate Word
Luke Eberle, Liberty
John Gates, Lindenwood
Nacho Abeal, SIUE
Jaron Frye, USI
Jimmy Baars, WIU
2024 OVC Preseason Poll
1. SIUE (11 first-place votes) 95 points
2. Liberty (3) 79
3. Incarnate Word 67
4. Lindenwood 66
5. Houston Christian (2) 59
6. Eastern Illinois 36
7. Western Illinois 25
8. Southern Indiana 21
