INDIANAPOLIS –Valparaiso senior midfielder Charles Barden (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) is the Horizon League Men’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week, while UIC redshirt-senior defender Josh Beard (Schaumburg, Ill.) has earned Defensive Player of the Week for the week of Oct. 28-Nov. 3.
The Valparaiso men’s soccer team (4-6-5, 1-3-2) rallied late in their match against Cleveland State Saturday night to a 1-0 victory. The Crusader’s first conference win keeps their postseason hopes alive as they remain in contention to clinch a spot in the Horizon League Championship.
Barden came up clutch late in the match for the Crusaders as he converted a penalty kick in the 87th minute past the Viking’s goalkeeper. The game-winning goal marked his fourth of the season, leading Valparaiso with 10 points.
The Flames (14-3-0, 6-0-0) wrapped-up the No. 1 seed in the Horizon League Championship with a 1-0 victory against Oakland Wednesday night. UIC holds a perfect conference record and will host the semifinal and final rounds of the Championship at Flames Field.
Beard stepped-up for the Flames against conference-foe Oakland as the defender scored his first penalty kick of his career in the 36th minute to collect his second game-winner of the season. His defensive efforts led UIC to its ninth shutout Wednesday and eighth consecutive-win Sunday afternoon with a victory over Drake.
The Flames are back at home Saturday, Nov. 9 as they host Green Bay at 2 p.m. EST for their final regular-season match and Senior Day. The Crusaders return to action against No. 24 Michigan tonight at 7 p.m. in Ann Arbor, Mich.
Top Offensive Performers of the Week:
Slobodan Aleksov, UIC (Sr. F)—Registered his fourth two-goal game of the season against Drake, leading UIC with nine goals and is third in the Horizon League. Also leads the Flames in points with 21, shots with 52 and shots on goal with 25.
Laurie Bell, Milwaukee (Jr., MF)—Netted his second-straight game-winner against Northern Illinois to retain possession of the LeWang Trophy. The goal added to his League-leading 11th of the year.
Jordan Hart, Cleveland State (Sr., F)—Scored the first goal of the match against Wright State.
Top Defensive Performers of the Week:
Liam Anderson, Milwaukee (Fr., GK)— Made three saves to record his seventh shutout of the year in a 1-0 win over Northern Illinois. He continues to lead the League with his .72 GAA.
Nick Ciraldo, Cleveland State (Fr., GK)-- Earned his fourth win of the year, saving five shots at the net against Wright State.
Tom Serratore, Valparaiso (Sr., GK)—Made two important saves on shots that were on goal to earn his third clean sheet of the season.
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
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
