Posted: Sep 05, 2023
JACK MANKE OF TEXAS LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY, a junior defender from Houston, Texas, has been named the SCAC Men’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week for games played through Monday, September 4th. SCAC Men's Soccer Release (Week 1)
Manke was instrumental along a backline that didn’t allow a single goal in the run of play and only allowed one goal all weekend (via penalty kick) as the Bulldogs are 2-0 to start a season for the first time since 2015. The Bulldogs shutout Occidental, 1-0, last Friday and then knocked off Cal Lutheran, 2-1, on Sunday. Manke and the Bulldogs limited opponents to just 12 shots all weekend, with just five of those shots being on target.
Other outstanding performances in the SCAC:
Sophomore defender Sam Spencer of Austin College was stellar on both ends of the pitch as the 'Roos went 2-0 with a road win at ETBU and a home victory over LeTourneau to open up the 2023 campaign. Spencer was a standout on defense in both matches, while contributing offensively as well. Spencer scored a goal in the team's game against ETBU and followed up with an assist against LeTourneau. Junior defender Curtis Hale of Colorado College led a Tiger defense that allowed just three goals in the opening two fixtures to post a 1-1 record. CC allowed just 13 total shots, with just seven of those being on target. Sophomore defender Raghav Sharma of Southwestern was outstanding for the Pirates defensively in the opening weekend of 2023. Sharma helped the Pirates post a shutout in the opening win against Willamette and jumped in offensively to score a goal in the victory as well. Senior goalkeeper Cristo Gayoso of St. Thomas posted a perfect 2-0 record in net last weekend for the Celts, averaging 3.50 saves per game and posting an impressive 0.54 goals-against average and .875 save percentage. Senior defender Pieter Blank of Trinity led the Tigere to a 2-0-0 weekend to start the season, adding an assist on the game-tying goal against Pomona-Pitzer, and helping to limit Elmhurst and Pomona to just 18 shots in two games.
| SCAC Men's Soccer Defensive Players-of-the-Week |
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| Week 1 | Jack Manke, Texas Lutheran University |
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