University of North Carolina Athletics
Photo by: DALTON WAINSCOTT
November 11, 2026 | Men's Soccer
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – University of North Carolina men's soccer standout Joschi Schelb has been named ACC Offensive Player of the Year and seven Tar Heels earned All-ACC recognitions, the league announced on Wednesday. Schelb and Luka Nikolai claimed first-team All-ACC honors, while Nico Loebus and Bertil Rygaard Hansen were named to the second team. Nick Lockermann and Ryan Zellefrow earned places on the third team and Miles Carson grabbed a spot on the All-Freshman team.
A Hermann Trophy Midseason Watch list member, Schelb has posted 16 goals and three assists in UNC's 17 matches to become UNC's first Offensive Player of the Year since the league moved to the current award format in 2004. Schelb has scored in eight of the last 12 matches overall, including a late equalizer versus Cal in the first round of the ACC Championship. His 16 goals rank second nationally, just two behind Washington's Zach Ramsey, and his 35 points are third nationally. Schelb's 16 goals, which are tied for fourth on UNC's single-season list, are the most for a Tar Heel in a season since Billy Schuler scored 16 in 2011.
Nikolai, a senior from Dusseldorf, Germany, currently has five goals and 10 assists on the year. His 10 assists are second in the ACC and are tied for seventh nationally. As UNC's designated penalty taker, Nikolai has converted all five opportunities, including the 106th-minute game winner against Clemson in the ACC Quarterfinals. He also buried his penalty in the shootout versus Cal in the ACC first round.
A Bad Homburg, Germany native, Loebus has had a huge impact in the middle of the park for the Tar Heels in 2026. He's scored two goals and tallied four assists for eight points on the year, but he's shown a unique ability to destroy attacks with his relentless effort and ball-recovering skills.
Rygaard Hansen, a junior from Slagelse, Denmark, has been wreaking havoc on defenders with his pace and he's turned that into two goals and eight assists on the year. His eight assists are tied for sixth in the ACC and tied for 22nd nationally.
A senior from Nuremberg, Germany, Lockermann has anchored the Tar Heels defense this season playing as a left-sided center back and left back. Last season's America East Defender of the Year, Lockermann has added a goal and three assists to his strong defensive presence.
Zellefrow, a Berwyn, Pa. native, has been a key cog in UNC's attack in 2026. As a creative midfielder, he's posted four goals and six assists for 14 points, which ranks third on the team. Zellefrow's creativity in the midfield has often unlocked UNC's attack, while he leads the ACC in defensive duels success rate at 72.73%.
A defender from Bedford, Texas, Carson claimed his place on the right side of UNC's backline and hasn't looked back. He's started 16 of the Tar Heels' 17 matches and logged 1,377 minutes. His calm demeanor has been an asset to UNC's defense all season.
The Tar Heels are set to face NC State in the ACC Championship Semifinals on Thursday at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary. That match will begin at 5:30 p.m. with tickets available through the ACC's website.
Stay up to date with UNC men's soccer by following the Tar Heels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
A Hermann Trophy Midseason Watch list member, Schelb has posted 16 goals and three assists in UNC's 17 matches to become UNC's first Offensive Player of the Year since the league moved to the current award format in 2004. Schelb has scored in eight of the last 12 matches overall, including a late equalizer versus Cal in the first round of the ACC Championship. His 16 goals rank second nationally, just two behind Washington's Zach Ramsey, and his 35 points are third nationally. Schelb's 16 goals, which are tied for fourth on UNC's single-season list, are the most for a Tar Heel in a season since Billy Schuler scored 16 in 2011.
Nikolai, a senior from Dusseldorf, Germany, currently has five goals and 10 assists on the year. His 10 assists are second in the ACC and are tied for seventh nationally. As UNC's designated penalty taker, Nikolai has converted all five opportunities, including the 106th-minute game winner against Clemson in the ACC Quarterfinals. He also buried his penalty in the shootout versus Cal in the ACC first round.
A Bad Homburg, Germany native, Loebus has had a huge impact in the middle of the park for the Tar Heels in 2026. He's scored two goals and tallied four assists for eight points on the year, but he's shown a unique ability to destroy attacks with his relentless effort and ball-recovering skills.
Rygaard Hansen, a junior from Slagelse, Denmark, has been wreaking havoc on defenders with his pace and he's turned that into two goals and eight assists on the year. His eight assists are tied for sixth in the ACC and tied for 22nd nationally.
A senior from Nuremberg, Germany, Lockermann has anchored the Tar Heels defense this season playing as a left-sided center back and left back. Last season's America East Defender of the Year, Lockermann has added a goal and three assists to his strong defensive presence.
Zellefrow, a Berwyn, Pa. native, has been a key cog in UNC's attack in 2026. As a creative midfielder, he's posted four goals and six assists for 14 points, which ranks third on the team. Zellefrow's creativity in the midfield has often unlocked UNC's attack, while he leads the ACC in defensive duels success rate at 72.73%.
A defender from Bedford, Texas, Carson claimed his place on the right side of UNC's backline and hasn't looked back. He's started 16 of the Tar Heels' 17 matches and logged 1,377 minutes. His calm demeanor has been an asset to UNC's defense all season.
The Tar Heels are set to face NC State in the ACC Championship Semifinals on Thursday at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary. That match will begin at 5:30 p.m. with tickets available through the ACC's website.
Stay up to date with UNC men's soccer by following the Tar Heels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
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