INDIANAPOLIS -- UIC freshman Jose Fuentes (Chicago, Ill.) is the Horizon League Men’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week while Oakland freshman Wes Mink (West Chester, Ohio) is the Defensive Player of the Week for the week of Oct. 13-19. This marks the second time that Mink has collected the honor this season.
The UIC (6-5-2, 2-2-1) men’s soccer team competed in two conference matches this past week on the road at Green Bay Wednesday and hosted Milwaukee Saturday. Against the Phoenix, the Flames found the back of the net three times to claim a shutout win at Santaga Stadium. Three days later, UIC took the pitch against Milwaukee but fell, 2-1, to the defending Horizon League tournament champions.
Fuentes exploded on the offensive end for the Flames in their two games, collecting six points in the conference matchups. Versus Green Bay, the freshman collected his first career game-winner and multi-goal (2) game in an UIC uniform. His first goal came in the 56th minute and proved to be enough to collect the team victory. Fuentes continued to find the back of the net over the weekend as he scored the lone goal for the Flames against Milwaukee. The goal marked the freshman’s fifth of the season.
Oakland (6-5-1, 5-0-1) remained at the top of the Horizon League standings after two conference victories this past week. The Golden Grizzlies took the road to face Milwaukee in a mid-week game and collected the win, 2-0. Oakland then hosted League-newcomer Belmont Saturday and tallied its second shutout of the week winning 2-0.
Mink was in goal for the Golden Grizzlies in the two contests, recording two shutouts. The freshman made ten saves against Milwaukee and Belmont and helped improve the team goals-against average in League play to 0.31. The team has now tallied five-straight shutouts and has not allowed a goal in over 489 minutes. The shutout streak marks the second longest in the Division I era.
Next up for the Flames is their final non-conference contest of the season as they travel to Loyola on Tuesday for a 8 p.m. ET matchup at Loyola Soccer Park. The Golden Grizzlies take the pitch against No. 16 Michigan State on Wednesday for a 7 p.m. ET kick-off at Oakland Soccer Field.
Top Offensive Players of the Week:
Jordan Aidoud, Valparaiso (MF, Jr.): Scored the game-winning goal against Cleveland State and currently leads the squad in points (12), goals (4) and assists (4).
Shawn Claud Lawson, Oakland (F, Jr.): Scored both goals in the win over Milwaukee and has scored all of his team-leading three goals in League competition.
Alec Nagucki, Cleveland State (MF, Fr.): Scored two goals in the 3-0 win over Wright State and leads the team with three goals and six points.
Peguy Ngatcha, Wright State (F, So): Scored the lone Wright State goal in the game against Cleveland State.
Declan Rodriguez, Milwaukee (MF, Jr.): Scored his first two goals of the year for Milwaukee to help defeat the team defeat UIC, 2-1.
Top Defensive Players of the Week:
Tyler Blackmer, Wright State (GK, So.): Recorded four saves and the shutout victory against Green Bay.
Nico Campbell, Valparaiso ( GK, So.): Notched a shutout against Cleveland State and made ten saves over two games.
Offensive Players of the Week
Aug. 25: Jesus Torres, UIC
Sept. 2: Eric Lynch, Wright State
Sept. 9: Audi Jepson, Green Bay
Sept. 16: Jorge Alvarez, UIC
Sept. 23: Zev Taublieb, Valparaiso
Sept. 30: Eric Lynch, Wright State
Oct. 6: Jordan Aidoud, Valparaiso
Oct. 13: Jose Fuentes, UIC
Defensive Players of the Week
Aug. 25: Nico Campbell, Valparaiso
Sept. 2: Thomas Villamil, UIC
Sept. 9: Nathan Steinwascher, Detroit
Omar Lawrence, Valparaiso
Sept. 16: Tyler Blackmer, Wright State
Sept. 23: Nathan Steinwascher, Detroit
Sept. 30: Wes Mink, Oakland
Emeka Ononye, Wright State
Oct. 6: Cody Archibald, Oakland
Oct. 13: Wes Mink, Oakland
