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. 6.
Offensive Player of the Week
Gabriel Costa * So. * M * SMU
Costa repeated as the Offensive Player of the Week after posting four points in two games. In the Mustangs’ 3-0 win over Central Arkansas, he assisted on the game’s final goal in the 60
th minute. Against No. 11 UCF on Sunday, Costa then tallied three points including a goal and an assist. His assist helped put SMU on the board, before converting a penalty kick in the 84
th minute to even the match. SMU went on to earn a 3-3 tie with the Knights, and remain unbeaten on the season at 9-0-1.
Defensive Player of the Week
Ben Roberts * Sr. * D * Memphis
Roberts and Memphis remained undefeated in conference play on Friday, shutting out UConn 1-0 in Hartford, Conn. The Tigers held the Huskies to just a single shot on goal for the contest, and converted the golden goal in the 95
th minute for the overtime victory. Memphis is 2-0-0 in league play for the first time as a member of The American.
Goalkeeper of the Week
Noah Lawrence * Jr. * Cincinnati
Lawrence tallied 10 saves in an unbeaten week for Cincinnati, including a win and a tie. He picked up his first clean sheet of the season on Tuesday, turning aside four shots as the Bearcats dominated Purdue Fort Wayne 5-0. Against Temple on Saturday, Lawrence made a season-high six stops to help Cincinnati pick up a conference point with a 1-1 draw.
Rookie of the Week
Michael Blanke * Fr. * M * Memphis
Blanke earned his first collegiate point in Memphis’ 1-0 win over UConn, assisting on the game-winning goal in overtime. The freshman found Alexandros Ierides with a pass across the edge of the goal. The Tigers are currently the only 2-0-0 team in conference play.
Weekly Honor Roll
Yanis Leerman * So. * D * UCF
Helped preserve an unbeaten week for UCF that included a 3-2 overtime win against Florida Atlantic and a 3-3 draw with No. 4 SMU; made a defensive save in the 68
th minute to keep the Knights in front at that time
Louis Perez * Jr. * M * UCF
Totaled six points in UCF’s unbeaten week, scoring twice in a 3-2 overtime win over Florida Atlantic and adding an assist in the Knights’ 3-3 conference draw with No. 4 SMU
Darryn Commissiong * Jr. * F * Cincinnati
Registered five points in Cincinnati’s 5-0 win over Purdue Fort Wayne, scoring twice and adding an assist; added a shot in the Bearcats’ 1-1 draw with Temple on Saturday
Alexandros Ierides * Jr. * M * Memphis
Tallied the golden goal in the 95
th minute to lift Memphis over UConn in overtime on Friday; the Tigers rose to 2-0-0 in American play for the first time
Leandros Lillis * Sr. * M * Temple
Scored his first career goal in the 90
th minute, pushing Temple to victory by a 1-0 score against Old Dominion on Tuesday; fired two shots with one on goal in a 1-1 draw against Temple on Saturday