MAC Men's Soccer Player of the Week
Nick Markanich, NIU
Forward, Junior, Bourbonnais, Ill. (Bradley-Bourbonnais)
Nick Markanich scored a pair of goals, increasing his lead as the top goalscorer in the MAC, as the NIU men’s soccer team swept SIU Edwardsville (March 31) and Akron (April 4). Markanich netted his sixth and seventh goals of the season in a 2-0 victory over the Cougars to open the week, playing the full 90 minutes in the win. The junior forward then led the line again for the Huskies in a 3-0 win at Akron, NIU’s first road win against the Zips since 1990, tallying three shots in 76 minutes of action. Markanich currently ranks in the top-10 nationally in goals scored.
Other Nominees
Ike Swiger, West Virginia
Midfielder, Junior, Fairmont, W.Va. (Fairmont Senior HS)
Tallied a brace against Western Michigan to lead the Mountaineers to a 3-1 win over the Broncos ... his goals against WMU came in the 50th and 76th minutes to help WVU put the game away in the second half ... scored the game-winning goal for the second consecutive contest, after scoring the game winner against No. 8 Marshall on March 24 ... tied for fourth in the conference in goals (3) and goals per game (0.43)
Mike Melaragni, Western Michigan
Forward, Junior, Rochester, Mich. (Stoney Creek)
Melaragni helped the Broncos earn a split last week. Against the Mountaineers he cut WVU's lead to 2-1 with a goal midway through the second half.In the win over SIUE he netted WMU's second goal, putting the Broncos up 2-0. He then set up the game-winning goal by winning a header over to Daniel Nimick, who volleyed his shot into the net to put the Broncos up 3-2 with just under six minutes left to play.
