Oct. 28, 2008
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The eighth installment of the NAIA Men's Soccer national weekly honors have been announced today (Oct. 28). Michael Smith of Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) was announced as National Defensive Player of the Week while Antonio Bautista of The College of Idaho was named National Offensive Player of the Week, for the week of Oct. 20-26.
Smith, a 6-1 freshman goalkeeper from Oldham, England, has been unbelievable in goal this season. He posted a shutout in Lindsey Wilson’s 1-0 win over West Virginia Tech. Smith followed that with a three-save performance in the Blue Raiders’ 2-0 victory over then-No. 23 Embry-Riddle (Fla.). Those shutouts extend his scoreless streak to 615 minutes. In fact, Smith has not allowed a goal this year.
Bautista, a 6-0 midfielder from Homedale, Idaho, came up big for the Coyotes this past week. In their 4-2 upset of then-No. 24 Concordia (Ore.), the senior netted two goals and assisted with another. Bautista added two more goals later in the week in a 2-1 over Cascade (Ore.). With that win, the Coyotes became the first Cascade Collegiate Conference team to complete a no-loss, no-tie league campaign since George Fox went 5-0 in 1994. Bautista now has nine game-winning goals, the most in the NAIA.
For more information on the national statistical leaders, click here
Offensive Nominees:
Oscar Ortez, Huston-Tillotson (Tex.); Adam Grant, Lambuth (Tenn.); Igor Petsch, Cumberlands (Ky.); Kolt O’Kelly, Concordia (Neb.); Lucas Rodriguez, MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.); Tom Stringer, Northwood (Fla.); Jose Garay, Kansas Wesleyan; Brendan Connolly, William Carey (Miss.); Lucas Barrett, Simon Fraser (B.C.); Diego Dias, Illinois Tech; Dylan Barduzzi, Columbia (Mo.); Keith Williams, Maine-Fort Kent; Steven Kane, Notre Dame (Ohio); Jacobo Gallardo, Bryan (Tenn.); Mark Foster, Trevecca Nazarene (Tenn.); Michel Hiza, Mountain State (W.V.); James Katajwa, Park (Mo.); Greg Lehman, St. Ambrose (Iowa); Jon Hughes, Taylor (Ind.); Stefan Wolf, Berry (Ga.); Erik Schultz, Concordia (Mich.); Cristian Fernandes, Oklahoma Christian; Jon Fahey, Concordia (Calif.); Mustafa Celick, Holy Names (Calif.)
Defensive Nominees:
Matt Walker, Olivet Nazarene (Ill.); Neale Goodeve, William Woods (Mo.); Alexandre Girodo, Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.); Bryce Flynn, Lindenwood (Mo.); Antonio Vernaschi, Texas-Brownsville; Alex Penrod, College of Idaho; Juan Mundo, Kansas Wesleyan; Jason Williams, Mobile (Ala.); Andy Fitzpatrick, Oklahoma City; Jeremy Novakoski, Davenport (Mich.); Emlyn Jacoby, Maine-Fort Kent; Andrew Carr, Notre Dame (Ohio); Patrick Purdy, Sioux Falls (S.D.); Mitch McKay, Southern Wesleyan (S.C.); Nate McCown, Bryan (Tenn.); Andre Zwaans, Webber International (Fla.); Roberto Clerveaux, Mountain State (W.V.); Robert Palmer, Park (Mo.); James Rammelsberg, Concordia (Calif.); Chris Scott, Grand View (Iowa); Ross Tanzer, Indiana Wesleyan; Ryan Vella, Dominican (Calif.)
2008 Composite Award Winners:
WEEK 1:
Offense: Ben Stropes (Central Christian) – Sr., F
Defense: Elliott Purdom (Viterbo) – So., GK
WEEK 2:
Offense: Robert Whitnell (Shorter) – Sr., F
Defense: Howard Fisher (Montreat) - Jr., GK
WEEK 3:
Offense: Joel Trainer (Indiana Wesleyan) – Sr., F
Defense: Alex Stout (Mount Vernon Nazarene) – Jr., GK
WEEK 4:
Offense: Tazou Ali Tagba (Park) – Jr., F
Defense: Jeff Jelinek (Hannibal-LaGrange) – So., GK
WEEK 5:
Offense: Adam Worrall (Mount Vernon Nazarene) – Sr., F
Defense: Zack Schultze (Reinhardt) - Fr., GK
WEEK 6:
Offense: Ryan Covey (Sterling) - Sr., F
Defense: Ross Gordon (King) - Sr., Def.
WEEK 7:
Offense: Lyall Menzies (Grand View) - Sr., F
Defense: Brion Ehman (Roberts Wesleyan) - Jr., GK
WEEK 8:
Offense: Antonio Bautista (College of Idaho) – Sr., MF
Defense: Michael Smith (Lindsey Wilson) – Fr., GK
