#1
DOB: 9/20/1986
HEIGHT: 6’4
WEIGHT: 207
YEARS PRO: 17
HOMETOWN: Chesapeake, VA
NATIONALITY: USA
CONTRACT: Signed
Player Bio
2024: In a season that was thwarted by multiple injuries, Van Oekel was still able to post six clean sheets despite making just 23 appearances. It marked the sixth consecutive season that the veteran goalkeeper accounted for at least four shutouts.
2023: Posted five clean sheets across 26 matches, including a memorable outing in the opening round of the postseason where he held the Tampa Bay Rowdies scoreless on its home field in a 3-0 win.
2022: Saved a staggering 87 of the 122 shots faced in his 33 appearances and would go on to post a career-best 11 clean sheets.
2021: Appeared in 27 matches and was named the club’s Defensive Player of the Year with nine clean sheets to go along with 84 saves. Van Oekel additionally recorded his first career assist in a 1-0 victory over rival Memphis 901 FC at historic Legion Field on May 15.
2020: Accounted for four clean sheets in his 14 appearances during the COVID-shortened campaign.
2019: Signed with Legion FC ahead of the club’s inaugural season and was named captain. Finished fifth among all USL Championship goalkeepers with five clean sheets posted.
PRIOR TO LEGION FC: Van Oekel played collegiately at Longwood University in 2004 before transferring to Rutgers where he played from 2005-2007. After impressing coaches at an open tryout, the Chesapeake, Virginia-native signed his first professional contract in 2009 with the Minnesota Thunder in USL1 and stayed with the franchise as it transitioned to NASL and became the Minnesota Stars and Minnesota United. He played in 78 matches for the club and was a part of the title-winning squads in 2011 and 2014. He signed with NASL-side FC Edmonton in 2015 and would play two seasons north of the border, winning the NASL Golden Glove in 2016. Van Oekel jumped to MLS in 2017 with Real Salt Lake in 2017 where he featured in six matches. He then moved back to USL with OKC Energy FC in 2018.
