Following an outstanding week on the pitch, Belmont University men's soccer's Michael Saunders has been selected as both Missouri Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Week and Tennessee Sports Writers Association (TSWA) Player of the Week and has been named to the College Soccer News National Team of the Week.
Announced by the league office Tuesday afternoon, the Bruins swept the MVC's weekly awards with Nate Logan being tabbed MVC Defensive Player of the Week for the second time this season.
Saunders scored all three of Belmont's goals in two gritty road victories last week, registering his first career brace in non-conference action at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis last Tuesday afternoon before providing the game winner at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Saturday night. Finding the back of the net within the first three minutes of both halves at IUPUI, Saunders posted his first goal of the season on a beautiful cross from senior midfielder Jansen Wilson in the third minute before striking an unassisted goal in the 47th minute. His second boot of the afternoon came from outside the 18-yard box and proved to be the difference in the Bruins' 2-1 triumph over the host Jaguars.
Leading regionally-ranked Belmont to its first MVC road win in program history Saturday at SIUE, Saunders launched a far-side upper 90 missile from the right-hand top of the box in the 27th minute. The strike spoiled the Cougars' homecoming as Saunders finished the week with five shots, four of which were on target. All three of the junior midfielder's goals this season came last week, representing the fourth, fifth and sixth goals of his career.
Graduate goalkeeper Logan earned two more wins between the pipes last week and secured his third clean sheet of the season. Superb in front of the net in both of the Bruins' road victories, Logan made numerous tremendous plays in the closing minutes of each match. Despite collecting only two saves for the week, Logan made several remarkable punch outs on crosses in Belmont's win at IUPU Tuesday afternoon and shut out SIUE Saturday night. With only one goal allowed in the 180 minutes, the Cincinnati, Ohio (Xavier HS), native recorded a goals against average of 0.5 and a 66.7 save percentage.
A native of Whitchurch, Hampshire, England (Testbourne Community School), Saunders is the first Bruin to be named MVC Offensive Player of the Week. Logan was also tabbed MVC Defensive Player of the Week on Aug. 30 following the opening week of the season. It is the third weekly defensive accolade Belmont has received from the league this season with senior defender John Bannec being chosen as MVC Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 13.
The Bruins return to E.S. Rose Park Saturday for a matchup with the University of Illinois Chicago. Kickoff from the Music City is slated for 6 p.m. with the Valley match broadcast on ESPN3.
Original source can be found here
Alerts Sign-up