Holthusen Earns Back to Back Player of the Week
Stuart Holthusen, Akron
Forward
Senior
Auckland, New Zealand
Senior Stuart Holthusen continued his dominating play this past week leading the Zips to a pair of victories on the strength on team-high marks in goals (3), points (6), shots (8) and game-winners (1), while rating second in shots on goal (3). He earned goals on each of his three shots on goal for the week. In Akron’s 2-0 victory over Marshall on Wednesday, Nov. 1, Holthusen registered a game-high four shots, including netting the game-winning tally in the 67th minute (66:13) connecting his sixth goal of the season, a successful penalty kick. He continued his dominance in Akron’s 4-0 win past Northern Illinois on Saturday, Nov. 5, delivering tallies in the 61st (60:27) and 66th (66:50) minutes, respectively. The effort allowed him to record his team-leading seventh career multi-goal effort, including two this season. Even more impressive is the fact that Holthusen has netted six of his team-best eight goals on the campaign in the last three contests. On the season, Holthusen owns team-best marks in goals (8), points (19), shots (38) and game-winners (3), while also adding three assists and 16 shots on goal.
Other Nominees
Brandon Bye, Western Michigan University
Midfielder
Senior
Portage, Mich. (Portage Northern)
Senior Brandon Bye scored the game-winning goal in the 65th minute lifting the No. 5 ranked Western Michigan men's soccer team to a 1-0 victory over Bowling Green on Senior Day. With the win, WMU finishes the regular season with a 15-2-1 overall record, going 5-0-0 in Mid-American Conference play. The Broncos clinched the MAC regular season title outright, its first ever in school history. It snapped Akron's 12-year run as conference champions, dating back to 2005. Bye's goal was his conference-leading 12th of the season. Pepe Martinez played the ball across the box and Bye flicked it in off the far post.
