Gilej, Pechota, Borkovic Named 2025 B1G Players to Watch

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Three Buckeyes were named to the preseason Big Ten Players to Watch List Tuesday by the league office. The conference coaches also ranked Ohio State in the No. 3 spot in the league’s preseason poll. 

Ohio State seniors Thomas Gilej, Luciano Pechota and Marko Borkovic were included on the 2025 Watch List by the league coaches. All three were part of the 2024 Big Ten Regular Season and league tournament titles as well as the run to the 2024 College Cup Semifinals. 

Gilej is a graduate defender from Wuppertal, Germany, with 64 career appearances and 49 starts. He enters the season with a pair of goals to his credit. 

Pechota, a midfielder from Avon, Ohio, is the top returning scorer from the 2024 squad with five goals and 17 points. He’s played in 60 matches for his career with 44 starts. He enters the 2025 season with 11 goals, 11 assists and 33 career points. 

Borkovic, a midfielder from Maidenhead, England, has played 45 matches with 32 career starts. He owns 10 career goals with 11 assists for 31 points. He found the net five times in 2024 to go with five assists. 

No. 3 Ohio State opens the 2025 season Thursday at Virginia Tech (7 p.m./ESPN+).

Big Ten Preseason Coaches Poll

1. Indiana
2. Maryland
3. Ohio State
4. UCLA
5. Washington
6. Michigan
7. Michigan State
8. Wisconsin
9. Rutgers
10. Penn State
11. Northwestern

2025 Big Ten Players to Watch

Palmer Ault, Sr., F, Indiana

Josh Maher, So., D, Indiana

Collins Oduru, Jr., M, Indiana

Luca Costabile, Sr., D, Maryland

Leon Koehl, Jr., M, Maryland

Sadam Masereka, Sr., F, Maryland

Raymundo Mendez, Gr., M/F, Michigan

Nolan Miller, Sr., D, Michigan

Shuma Sasaki, Gr., F/M, Michigan

Zac Kelly, Sr., GK, Michigan State

Miles Merritt, Jr., M, Michigan State

Brandon Munson, So., D, Michigan State

Jason Gajadhar, Sr., M, Northwestern

Nigel Prince, Sr., D, Northwestern

Fritz Volmar, Jr., D, Northwestern

Marko Borkovic, Sr., F, Ohio State

Thomas Gilej, Gr., M, Ohio State

Luciano Pechota, Sr., M, Ohio State

Malick Daouda, So., M, Penn State

Caden Grabfelder, Jr., M, Penn State

Kai Phillip, Gr., F, Penn State

Nick Collins, Jr., D, Rutgers

Ciaran Dalton, Sr., GK, Rutgers

Joschi Schelb, Jr., M, Rutgers

Drew Brown, Sr., D, UCLA

Sergi Solans Ormo, So., F, UCLA

Tamir Ratoviz, So., M, UCLA

Egor Akulov, Sr., D, Washington

Richie Aman, Sr., F, Washington

Charlie Kosakoff, Jr., F, Washington

Matisse Hebert, So., GK, Wisconsin

Ellis Jones, Jr., D, Wisconsin

Matthew Zachemski, So., M, Wisconsin

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