Oct. 26, 2009
EVANSTON, Ill. -
Northwestern men's soccer junior forward Matt Eliason (Lombard, Ill./Glenbard East) has been named the College Soccer News National Player of the Week as well as the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week. In addition, senior goalkeeper Misha Rosenthal (Miami, Fla./Gulliver Prep) has been honored as the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week.
It is the second time this season that Eliason has earned a top national honor as Top Drawer Soccer bestowed the recognition upon him Sept. 14. He has earned the Big Ten weekly award twice now this season and three times in his career.
Eliason posted two game-winning goals last week as the Wildcats defeated Loyola Chicago 1-0 Tuesday and Indiana 2-0 Sunday. He scored with 7:23 remaining in the win over the Ramblers before notching the match's first tally in the 63rd minute Sunday.
He has 12 goals this season, a total which ranks third in the nation to only UMBC teammates Andrew Bulls (15) and Levi Houapeu (14). Five of Eliason's scores have been game-winners. His 12 goals match his total from a year ago and rank as a tie for the second most in a season in school history.
Eliason has 29 career goals, one shy of Jonathan Hall's top mark of 30 achieved from 1986-89.
Meanwhile, Rosenthal guided Northwestern to a pair of shutout wins. He stopped five shots in the one-goal victory over the Ramblers before making three saves in Sunday's win over Indiana. It marked the Wildcats' first win ever over the Hoosiers in Evanston.
Rosenthal has five shutouts to his credit this season and a school-record 28 for his career. It is the second time this season and the sixth time in his career that he has been named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week.
Northwestern (9-2-4, 2-1-1 Big Ten) returns to action at 1 p.m. Central time Sunday as it travels to Michigan. The contest is being televised live by the Big Ten Network.