MAC Men's Soccer Player of the Week
Nick Markanich, NIU
Forward, Senior, Bourbonnais, Ill. (Bradley-Bourbonnais)
Nick Markanich of the NIU men’s soccer team scored four goals this week, helping the Huskies to a pair of victories over Milwaukee and Western Illinois. Markanich’s four goals continued his incredible start to the season as the Huskie senior forward has scored in five consecutive games and has a nation’s best nine goals. Markanich opened the week with a goal against Milwaukee in a 4-0 victory over the Panthers as the Huskies won the annual Lewang Cup matchup. Four days later, Markanich scored three goals in just 45 minutes of action, netting NIU’s first hat trick since 2002, as the Huskies topped Western Illinois, 6-0.
Other Nominees
Sergi Martinez, Bowling Green
Midfielder, Senior, Barcelona, Spain (Eugeni Xammar)
Bowling Green’s Sergi Martinez had a goal in each match as the Falcons went 2-0 last week. Martinez scored early in the second half to cap the scoring in BGSU’s 3-0 win over Wright State, then scored what proved to be the winning goal as the Falcons took down nationally-ranked FIU three days later. Martinez found the back of the net just under 60 minutes into the latter match, then had the primary assist on BG’s second goal in the win over the #13/17 Panthers. With the five-point week, he now has a team-leading nine points on the season, on three goals and three assists. The Falcons are now 5-1-1 on the season, with the only loss coming against the defending national champions.
