Education
Van Oekel played one year of college soccer at Longwood University before transferring to Rutgers in his sophomore year. With Rutgers, he played in 47 games and earned 20 wins.
Van Oekel played one year of college soccer at Longwood University before transferring to Rutgers in his sophomore year. With Rutgers, he played in 47 games and earned 20 wins.
Youth and College Professional Van Oekel signed with Minnesota out of college in 2008, after impressing staff at the Thunder combine in February 2008. He made his professional debut on September 13, 2009, in 1-1 tie with Montreal Impact., and was released at the end of the season when the Thunder failed, before being picked up by their successor National Security Council Minnesota Stars, in April 2010. Minnesota United Football Club, now playing in the North American Soccer League, re-signed Van Oekel for the 2011 season on March 11, 2011.
Minnesota announced in December 2011 that Van Oekel would return for the 2012 season.