IRVING, Texas – The American Athletic Conference has announced the winners of the league’s weekly men’s soccer honors, for the week ending Sunday, September 26.
Offensive Player of the Week
Nick Taylor * 5th * F * UCF
Taylor continued a great start to the 2021 season with a 3-point performance at home in a 4-1 win against Temple on Sept. 24 to move UCF to 2-0-0 in conference play. Taylor served up his seventh assist of the season at 52:09, finding Lucca Dourado for the match-winning goal and a 2-1 lead. Taylor then scored his first goal of the season unassisted at 74:20 for a 3-1 advantage. Taylor was the NCAA DI leader in total assists (7) and assists per match (1.00) as of Sept. 26.
Defensive Player of the Week
Henry Sach * Sr. * D * Tulsa
Sach helped guide the No. 8/5 Tulsa defense in a 1-0 clean sheet victory on the road at Memphis on Sept. 24 to move the Golden Hurricane to 2-0-0 in the early conference season. The Tulsa back line limited Memphis to seven total shots in the match and just one shot on goal. Sach contributed to the offensive end as well with his first goal of the season, scoring an unassisted try at 21:33 that was the ultimate match-winner for the Golden Hurricane.
Goalkeeper of the Week
Cole Johnson * So. * GK * SMU
Johnson stood tall in net for No. 13/7 SMU during a 2-0 home clean sheet against South Florida on Sept. 24 to remain unbeaten in conference play. Johnson turned away all three shot attempts on goal from the Bulls, each of which were recorded in the second half, to preserve the shutout.
Weekly Honor Roll
Yanis Leerman * Sr. * D * UCF
Captained the UCF defense in a 4-1 win on Sept. 24 against Temple; helped limit the Owls to three shots on goal and assisted on the final UCF goal at 79:04
Lane Warrington * Sr. * M * SMU
Scored his first goal of the season for No. 13/7 SMU as part of a 2-0 shutout of South Florida on Sept. 24; found the back of the net just 3:16 into the match to tally what was ultimately the match-winner for the Mustangs
Brandon Terwege * Gr. * D * SMU
Leader of the No. 13/7 SMU defense in a strong performance that kept South Florida off the scoreboard in a 2-0 win on Sept. 24; along with the shutout, the Mustangs limited the Bulls to just three shots on goal
Mike Eijgendaal * So. * F * Temple
Picked up his second goal of the season to get Temple on the board in a 4-1 setback at UCF on Sept. 24; scored the tying goal at 37:41 to make the score 1-1