INDIANAPOLIS –UIC sophomore forward Jorge Alvarez (Oswego, Ill.) has been named Horizon League Men’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week, while Valparaiso junior defender Mitch Albrecht (Batavia, Ill.) has earned Defensive Player of the Week for the week of Nov. 4-10.
UIC captured their regular-season finale against Green Bay. In doing so, the Flames posted a perfect, 7-0-0 Horizon League record. Valparaiso posted a critical, 1-0 decision over Detroit. The win secured the No. 6 and final seed in the Horizon League Men’s Soccer Championship. Earlier in the week, the Crusaders posted a valiant effort versus No. 20 Michigan. However, the Wolverines came out on top,1-0.
With the match knotted 1-1, Alvarez found the back of the net in the 84th minute against Green Bay to put the Flames up 2-1. The goal was the eventual game-winner, marking the fourth time this season the sophomore has netted the game-winning goal. Alvarez also assisted the Flames first goal in the 54th minute. The win was UIC’s (15-3-0, 7-0-0) ninth straight victory and also gave the Flames an unbeaten League record, a first in program history.
In a critical, must-win match against Detroit, the Valparaiso (5-7-5, 2-3-2) defense came up huge. Needing a win to secure the sixth and final spot in the Horizon League Men’s Soccer Championship, Albrecht anchored a Crusader defense that pitched a 1-0 shutout over Detroit. The win means the team will travel to Oakland for a date in the quarterfinals. Earlier in the week, Albrecht played in every minute at No. 20 Michigan. The Crusaders fell victim to a penalty kick in the 26th minute. For the week, Albrecht directed a defense that allowed a measly one goal in 180 minutes of play.
UIC heads into the Horizon League Men’s Soccer Championship as the No. 1 seed. The Flames will play the lowest remaining seed out of the quarterfinals on Friday, Nov. 15 at Flames Field. No. 6 Valparaiso travels to OU Field for a 7:00 p.m. ET quarterfinal match-up with No. 3 Oakland.
Top Offensive Performers of the Week:
Laurie Bell, Milwaukee (Jr., MF)—Scored one goal and assisted another in Milwaukee’s 5-0 win over Cleveland State. The victory clinched the No. 2 seed for the Panthers in the Horizon League Men’s Soccer Championship.
Jesse Ortiz, Valparaiso (Sr., M)—Posted his first goal of the season in game-winning fashion against Detroit, securing a birth in the Horizon League Men’s Soccer Championship.
Top Defensive Performers of the Week:
Liam Anderson, Milwaukee (Fr., GK)—Made four saves to register his eighth shutout of the season. In turn, lowered his League-leading goals against average to 0.68.
Eric Lynch, Wright State (Fr., F)—Scored the game winning goal and had an assist in the Raiders’ 3-2 win at San Diego State. Earlier in the week, helped the team to a 2-2 draw at Kentucky.
Men’s Soccer Offensive Players of the Week:
Aug. 26: Sabastian Xiong, Green Bay
Sept. 2: Laurie Bell, Milwaukee
Sept. 9: Robbie Boyd, Milwaukee
Sept. 16: Sam Krenzien, Green Bay
Sept. 23: Aaron Horvat, Milwaukee
Sept. 30: Laurie Bell, Milwaukee
Joey Tinnion, Oakland
Oct. 7: Slobodan Aleksov, UIC
Oct. 14: Jesus Torres, UIC
Oct. 21: Admir Suljevic, Cleveland State
Oct. 28: Charles Barden, Valparaiso
Nov. 4: Jorge Alvarez, UIC
Men’s Soccer Defensive Players of the Week:
Aug. 26: Liam Anderson, Milwaukee
Sept. 2 Nathan Steinwascher, Detroit
Sept. 9: Sean Lewis, Oakland
Sept. 16: Andrew Putna, UIC
Sept. 23: Sean Lewis, Oakland
Sept. 30: Tom Serratore, Valparaiso
Oct. 7: Sean Lewis, Oakland
Oct. 14: Brandon Hall, Green Bay
Oct. 21: Tyler Blackmer, Wright State
Oct. 28: Josh Beard, UIC
Nov. 4: Mitch Albrecht, Valparaiso
