RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Great American Conference announced the men’s soccer players of the week for the fifth week of the 2023 season. Ouachita Baptist’s Ebon Jordan and Newman’s Carlos Bellosta Manchon shared the Offensive accolade; Rogers State’s Michael Lennon claimed the Defender award while the Hillcats’ Declan Viljoen and Southern Nazarene’s Andrej Krivokapic shared the Goalkeeper honor.
#theGAC/MIAA MEN’S SOCCER CO-OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Carlos Bellosta Manchon, MF, Newman, Sr., Madrid, Spain
Bellosta Manchon scored four goals in leading the Jets to a 1-0-1 record. He netted the opening goal in their 3-0 win at Harding. He registered his second hat trick of the season as the Jets rallied for a 4-4 draw against Ouachita Baptist. He scored in the 85th minute to level the match at 3-3 and scored with just 33 seconds remaining to secure a point on the road.
#theGAC/MIAA MEN’S SOCCER CO-OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Ebon Jordan, F, Ouachita Baptist, Sr., Cedar Hill, Texas
Jordan notched three goals in the Tigers’ two draws last week. Against Fort Hays State, his two second-half goals erased a 2-0 deficit. His 56th-minute goal came from just outside the 18-yard box. The tying goal occurred in the 87th minute when he headed home a deflection. Against Newman, his 79th-minute tally gave the Tigers a brief 3-2 lead.
#theGAC/MIAA MEN’S SOCCER DEFENDER OF THE WEEK – Michael Lennon, D, Rogers State, So., Congleton, England
Lennon led the Hillcats to a 1-0 upset of rival No. 16 Northeastern State on Thursday as he played all 90 minutes. He anchored a defense that earned its third shutout of the season by holding the RiverHawks to just eight total shots with only two on goal in the match.
#theGAC/MIAA MEN’S SOCCER CO-GOALKEEPER OF THE WEEK – Declan Viljoen, GK, Rogers State, Jr., Auckland, New Zealand
Viljoen earned his second clean sheet of the season in the upset 1-0 win over rival No. 16 Northeastern State on Thursday. He made two saves on eight shots faced. He ranks second in the conference in goals-against-average, 1.05, and save percentage, .769.
#theGAC/MIAA MEN’S SOCCER CO-GOALKEEPER OF THE WEEK – Andrej Krivokapic, GK, Southern Nazarene, Fr., Niksic, Montenegro
Krivokapic helped lead the Crimson Storm to a shutout victory against No. 16 Northeastern State. He made a pair of saves in the 3-0 victory, Southern Nazarene’s fourth-straight against the RiverHawks. He owns three-straight clean sheets and he has not allowed a goal in his last 290 minutes.
OTHERS NOMINATED
Gabriel De Sousa, MF (Southern Nazarene), Hugo Martin, F (Rogers State)
Alvaro Sanchez, D (Southern Nazarene)
Scott Pengelly, GK (Fort Hays State)