WACO, Texas - Midwestern State’s Christian Okeke and Lubbock Christian’s Fernando Rios have been named the Heartland Conference Men’s Soccer Players of the Week for matches played from Sept. 12 - Sept. 18.
Offensive Player of the Week
Christian Okeke, Midwestern State
Forward, Sr., Wichita Falls, Texas
Senior Christian Okeke led Midwestern State with four goals in a 2-1 week for the 17th-ranked Mustangs at home. In the conference opener against West Texas A&M, Okeke recorded his first career hat trick against the Buffs, scoring MSU's first three goals in the 5-0 victory. Okeke also added the first goal of the game in a 4-1 win over Eastern New Mexico Saturday at MSU Soccer Field. On the week, Okeke placed four of his five shots on goal with one game winner.
Defensive Player of the Week
Fernando Rios, Lubbock Christian
Goalkeeper, So., Dallas, Texas
Rios recorded a pair of shutouts and is currently riding a three-match shutout streak. His play in goal helped lead the Chaps to a 1-0-1 record. LCU has never had three consecutive shutouts program history and he has not allowed a goal in a span of 291:35, including a 110-minute double-overtime shutout draw against Newman this week. He stopped all eight shots on goal he saw this week, in a win over Rogers State and the draw against Newman.