PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The American Athletic Conference has announced the winners of the league’s weekly men’s soccer honors for the week ending Sunday, Oct. 27.
Offensive Player of the Week
Garrett McLaughlin * Sr. * F * SMU
McLaughlin was unstoppable on Saturday in No. 12 SMU’s 7-1 conference win at Cincinnati, burying five goals with an assist for 11 points. Those marks set American Athletic Conference single-game records, with his goal total bettering the previous record of four set by Kene Eze of Rutgers in 2013. McLaughlin’s performance is the highest single-game point total in the NCAA so far this season, and ties SMU’s 39-year old single-game goal record. The Mustangs rose to 12-1-1 on the season with wins over the Bearcats and Stetson.
Defensive Player of the Week
Pierre Cayet * Sr. * D * Temple
Cayet was a formidable threat on both ends of the pitch last week as Temple clinched 2-1 wins over RV Louisville and UConn. The center back registered a header goal in both games, including the game-winner in the 61st minute against UConn and the first tally at Louisville. Defensively, the Owls held their opponents to just six shots on goal, and are winners of four-straight.
Goalkeeper of the Week
Yannik Oettl * Jr. * UCF
Oettl collected his fourth shutout of the season on Saturday, making five saves to push UCF to a 1-0 win in the War On I4 at USF. All of his saves came in the first half, and helped the Knights to their 12th-consecutive unbeaten outing. Oettl has played every minute between the pipes for UCF this season and owns a 1.15 goals against average.
Rookie of the Week
Mickael Borger * So. * D * Temple
Borger contributed three points for Temple in the Owls’ 2-0-0 week, registering an assist against Louisville and a goal against UConn. His assist against the Cardinals came with three minutes remaining, propelling Temple to the 2-1 win. Borger then scored the first goal against UConn as the Owls prevailed 2-1. Temple has won four-straight and secured its spot in the American Athletic Conference Championship field.
Weekly Honor Roll
Jonas Schmalbach * Fr. * F * UCF
Scored the only needed goal for UCF against USF on Saturday, lifting the Knights to a 1-0 win in the War on I4; the No. 8 Knights are unbeaten in their last 12 games and sit atop the conference standings
Sam Ashton * Sr. * F * Memphis
Buried his fourth game-winning goal of the season, this time in seconds into overtime as the Tigers earned a 2-1 win over Tulsa on Sunday; became the first Tiger with 10 goals in a season since Mark Sherrod in 2012
Parker Lackland * So. * GK * Memphis
Made a season-high six saves on Sunday, backstopping Memphis to a 2-1 overtime win against Tulsa; owns a 10-3 record in net with a 1.34 goals against average this season
Adrian Billhardt * Jr. * F * USF
Scored his first goal of the season en route to USF’s 2-2 draw with No. 11 FIU on Tuesday; found the net on a perfectly-placed free kick from 19 yards out
Lukas Fernandes * Sr. * F * Temple
Totaled three points in Temple’s 2-0-0 week, netting the game-winner in the 87th minute at Louisville on Tuesday and assisting on the game-winner against UConn on Saturday; the 2-1 victories marked the third- and fourth-straight for the Owls