INDIANAPOLIS -- Valparaiso sophomore midfielder Eric Nieto (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) has been named the Horizon League Offensive Player of the Week in men's soccer and fifth-year senior keeper Kyle Zobeck (Coralville, Iowa) has earned Defensive Player of the Week honors after the Crusaders went 2-0 during the week of Oct. 15-21.
It is the first Player of the Week award for either player this season.
On a rainy Wednesday night in Valparaiso, the Crusaders picked up a 2-1 non-conference win against visiting Northern Illinois. After Valpo had jumped out to an early 1-0 lead, Nieto scored what proved to be the game-winner on a 30-yarder in the 13th minute. Although he allowed one goal in the match, Zobeck came up with seven saves on the same day he was named a national finalist for the 2012 Senior CLASS Award in men's soccer, preserving the win.
In conference play, Valpo went to Detroit on Sunday and handed the Titans their first Horizon League loss of the season. In a defensive struggle, the Crusaders finally broke through with the game-winning score in the 82nd minute and just four minutes later Nieto added an important insurance goal to give the game its final 2-0 tally. Zobeck need just two first-half saves to record his fourth shutout of the season for the Crusaders (3-6-5, 1-1-3 HL).
Nieto ended the week with two goals and four points on seven shots, five on goal. Zobeck allowed just the one goal to Northern Illinois for a 0.50 goals-against average, making nine total saves while going 2-0. The fifth-year senior has surrended only two goals in League play this season, recording three shutouts.
Valpo will wrap up the regular season on Wednesday, when the Crusaders host the Wright State Raiders in a matchup at 8:30 p.m. ET. The contest will be carried live on the Horizon League Network and locally on WVUR 95.1 Valparaiso.
Top Offensive Performers for the Week:
Christian Arboleda, Cleveland State (Fr., F) - Fired four shots (three on goal) against the Panthers and gave Cleveland State a 1-0 lead with a goal in the 89th minute of the Viking's overtime win against Milwaukee.
Laurie Bell, Milwaukee (So., MF) - Scored in both of the Panthers' games and is currently tied for second in the League with seven goals this season.
Ivan Stanisavljevic, UIC (Sr., MF) - Scored in UIC's first win in Green Bay since 2005, helping the Flames move into sole possession of first place in the Horizon League standings. Is tied with Milwaukee's Bell for second in the League with seven goals and also ranks second with 19 points.
Top Defensive Performers for the Week:
Connor Revsbeck, Milwaukee (Fr., GK) - Posted a second-straight clean sheet on Tuesday against Omaha and held Cleveland State scoreless for 87 minutes before suffering a defeat in overtime.
Piotr Kikolski, UIC (R-Jr., GK) - Made two saves in UIC's first win in Green Bay since 2005, posting a shutout to help the Flames move into sole possession of first place in the Horizon League standings.
Men’s Soccer Offensive Players of the Week:
Aug. 20: Ivan Stanisavljevic, UIC
Aug. 27: Laurie Bell, Milwaukee
Sept. 3: Adam Bedell, Detroit
Sept. 10: Adam Bedell, Detroit
Sept. 17: Adam Bedell, Detroit
Sept. 24: Derek Zuniga, Wright State
Oct. 1: Laurie Bell, Milwaukee
Oct. 8: Slobodan Aleksov, UIC
Oct. 15: Eric Nieto, Valparaiso
Men’s Soccer Defensive Players of the Week:
Aug. 20: Ryan Wehking, Green Bay
Aug. 27: Jacob Bye, Wright State
Sept. 3: Max Nimmo, Green Bay
Sept. 10: John Shakon, Milwaukee
Sept. 17: Nathan Steinwascher, Detroit
Sept. 24: Zach Kaleta, UIC
Oct. 1: Brad Stuver, Cleveland State
Oct. 8: Nathan Steinwascher, Detroit
Connor Revsbeck, Milwaukee
Oct. 15: Kyle Zobeck, Valparaiso
