Defeated SVSU, tied Davenport
MARQUETTE, Mich. – The NMU men’s soccer team has swept the GLIAC Weekly Awards, as both Luca Rosen and Asaf Kristal have been honored in week six, announced by the conference today.
Rosen, a junior from London, England, earned his first GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week honor after he scored a pair of goals over the weekend to extend his goal-scoring streak to three games. The forward began by scoring the game-winning goal over the conference leaders, No. 17 Saginaw Valley State, before adding his second tally of the weekend against Davenport in the 1-1 draw. Rosen has been on a tremendous run of form over the past six games, scoring five goals and three game-winning goals since the start of the GLIAC campaign, both conference-leading numbers. Rosen also paces the GLIAC in overall and conference shots and shots on goal.
Kristal, a redshirt junior from Tel Aviv, Israel, played a massive role in securing four points at home over the weekend. The transfer goalkeeper opened his weekend by posting a season-high 12 saves and a shutout in the 1-0 win over No. 17 Saginaw Valley State, handing the Cardinals its first loss of the season and aiding the ‘Cats to the program’s first win over SVSU in Marquette. Kristal rounded out his weekend by making double-digit saves again, posting 10+ saves in back-to-back games for the first time this season, including battling 30+ mph wind gusts into his face in the final half. In the six matches of conference play, Kristal leads the GLIAC in goals against (5), GAA (.833), SV% (.868), shutouts (3), and is second in saves per game (5.50). Kristal also leads conference netminders in all of those categories when including non-conference games.
“Very happy for both Asaf and Luca,” added head coach Alex Fatovic, who has overseen his team get out to a 3-2-1 conference mark with 10 points, only one win behind the GLIAC leaders. “They are top players and have fit right in with this program.”
“Asaf was huge in both games again, coming up with Timely saves and leadership, while Luca was dangerous every single time he touched the ball. He netted two, but could have had five, while working hard for everything. It’s great to be recognized, but it will mean nothing if we don’t follow this up with another huge weekend of conference play on the road. Well done, lads!”
NMU GLIAC Players of the Week Running List
- Week 2 – Owen Rutledge, Defensive
- Week 6 – Luca Rosen, Offensive; Asaf Kristal, Defensive
