MAC Men's Soccer Player of the Week
Nick Markanich, NIU
Forward, Junior, Bourbonnais, Ill. (Bradley-Bourbonnais)
NIU junior forward Nick Markanich scored two goals and recorded an assist in just 45 minutes of action as the Huskies beat Chicago State, 10-0, in their lone game of the week. Markanich netted his first goal from the penalty spot in the 34th minute and added a second goal two minutes before halftime. He also recorded an assist on a goal by his brother, Anthony, in the 37th minute. NIU’s 10 goals against the Cougars are tied for the fourth-most in program history and the most in a game since the 1987 season.
Other Nominees
Logan Kowalczyk, Bowling Green
Goalkeeper, Sophomore, Pinckney, Mich. (Gahanna [Ohio] Lincoln)
Bowling Green’s Logan Kowalczyk played all 180 minutes in goal for the Falcons last week, and did not allow a goal in the run of play. Kowalczyk, in the first start of his collegiate career, made two saves as BGSU defeated Syracuse, 2-1, in a neutral-site game in Buffalo, N.Y. SU’s only goal came on a penalty kick. Then, Kowalczyk made four stops on the road against #9 Marshall. The only goal he allowed came on another PK late in the match. On the week, he had six saves, a .750 saves percentage and a GAA of just 1.00.
Diogo Pacheco, Akron
Forward, Sr., Lisbon, Portugal
Senior Diogo Pacheco propelled Akron to a 1-1 double-overtime draw at No. 12 Kentucky on Thursday, Feb. 25. Pacheco gave the Zips a 1-0 lead in the 15th minute (14:33) finding the back of the net for his first goal of the season. Carlo Ritaccio cleared a ball in the midfield to the foot of Henrique Cruz, who served a ball to a streaking Pacheco down the sideline, who took the feed and found the back of the net. Pacheco finished the contest registering a game-high four shots.
Tony Pineda, West Virginia
Forward, Junior, Statesville, N.C. (Statesville HS)
Scored two goals, including the game winner, in West Virginia's season-opening, 3-0 win over Charlotte on Feb. 26 ... game-winning goal was the first of his career ... team leader in goals with two ... now has four goals and 12 points in his career ... has a 1.000 shot percentage and 1.000 shots-on-goal percentage for 2021 ... made 11th career start against Charlotte on Friday ... helped lead the Mountaineers to their first win of the season and the first win at WVU for first-year head coach Dan Stratford.
