AMERICAN UNIVERSITY men's soccer

PROGRAM QUICK FACTS

Spanning seven decades beginning in 1949, the American University men's soccer program features a rich history that includes:

Winning the Patriot League Championship in 2021-22 and advancing to the NCAA Second Round

Nine NCAA Tournament appearances, including the 1985 NCAA College Cup where the Eagles finished as runners-up

Three NCAA Elite Eight appearances

Five NCAA Round of 16 appearances

12 Conference Regular-Season titles

Five conference tournament titles

PROGRAM QUICK FACTS

AU boasts a number of players that have had tremendous individual success on the pitch.

Fifteen players have played professionally, and five have earned caps for their national teams.

Seven players have earned NCAA All-America recognition, including 1985 National Player of the Year Michael Brady.

13 Conference Players of the Year, including 2024 Patriot League Player of the Year Troy Elgersma.

REEVES FIELD

One of the premier soccer facilities in the Washington, D.C. area, Reeves Field has been home to the American University varsity men’s & women’s soccer programs since 1949. It has hosted six NCAA Tournament games as well as served as the training site for numerous professional and international teams. Reeves Field boasts a new scoreboard as of 2024, and will be undergoing a renovation in the spring of 2025 for a brand-new, bermudagrass surface, and state-of-the-art irrigation and drainage systems.

Teams that have trained at Reeves include:

Professional teams - AC Milan, Blackburn, D.C. United, FC Barcelona, LA Galaxy, Manchester United, Miami Fusion, Newcastle United, Roma, San Jose Earthquakes, Seattle Sounders, MLS All Stars '24

National teams - Brazil, Bolivia, Germany, Jamaica, Portugal, Spain, United States, USWNT, Uruguay

PATRIOT LEAGUE

American competes in the Patriot League, which is located in the Northeast Region and is comprised of 10 private institutions for higher education. It is among the most selective group of higher education institutions in the NCAA Division 1. American has the second-largest undergraduate enrollment in the Patriot League (7,817).

MEET THE COACHING STAFF

HEAD COACH ZACH SAMOL

Zach Samol was hired as the head coach at American University prior to the 2019 season.
In the spring 2021 season, Samol led the Eagles to their first Patriot League championship since 2004. American made repeat appearances in the championship game in both the fall of 2021 and 2022.
He coached AU to second round of the NCAA Tournament in the spring of 2021 after advancing past Jacksonville.
Samol previously spent 13 seasons at Big East powerhouse Georgetown, including seven as associate head coach.
The Hoyas made seven NCAA Tournament appearances in Samol's tenure, including the 2012 NCAA Championship game.
With the Hoyas, Samol coached 19 future MLS players, 10 All-Americans, and 11 Big East Players of the Year.
He also spent time at Yale and Boston College.
Samol was named All-Ivy during his playing career at Dartmouth.
Email: samol@american.edu

ASSISTANT COACH PATRICK MEHLERT

Patrick Mehlert coached his sixth season at American University in 2024 after joining the staff in 2019.
He helped AU win its first conference title since 2004 in the spring 2021 campaign, reaching the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Mehlert previously spent five years as head coach of Bethesda Soccer Club.
He holds a USSF National “B” Coaches License and various NSCAA certificates/diplomas.
Mehlert is part of the AU Class of 2014, earning his bachelor's from the Kogod School of Business in Business Administration.
He saw action in 72 games for the Eagles in his playing career.
Mehlert is the son of legendary AU head coach Pete Mehlert, who coached the Eagles from 1972-91.
Email: mehlertp@american.edu

ASSISTANT COACH ZACH WEIDMAN

Zach Wiedman coached his third season at American in 2024.
He previously spent two seasons at the University of the Cumberlands.
In the spring 2021 season, Wiedman led the Patriots to their first conference title and an appearance in the NAIA National Tournament Quarterfinals.
UC finished the spring with a No. 6 ranking in the final national poll, the highest ranking in program history
Wiedman played four seasons at Spring Arbor, earning an .833 winning percentage as the starting goalkeeper.
Email: weidman@american.edu

ASSISTANT COACH NICOLAS BLASSOU

American University graduate Nic Blassou (‘21) began his first season as an assistant coach in the fall of 2024.
At AU, Blassou started in all 26 games over two years playing for head coach Zach Samol. He was an All-Patriot League selection in both seasons.
Blassou transferred to American from Kentucky in 2020. As a Wildcat, he started in 17 games over three seasons, helping UK to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances.
Blassou graduated from AU with a degree in biology before graduate transferring to UCLA, where he appeared in 14 games, starting in 10.
He started in all three of UCLA’s NCAA Tournament games in the 2022 season. Blassou graduated from UCLA in 2023 with a master’s degree in education.
Originally from Rockville, Md., Blassou returned home to coach with Montgomery Soccer’s MSI club. He coaches individual and team training in the DMV, and he holds a USSF grassroots license.
Email: nblassou@american.edu

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WASHINGTON, D.C.

American University is located in Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States. On the banks of the Potomac River, bordering both Maryland and Virginia, Washington D.C. is one of the most visited cities in the world. For more information about Washington, D.C., click here.