Julian Gressel, Providence
Gressel Repeats As BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week For Third Time; Trio of DePaul Players Earn Awards
BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week
Julian Gressel, Providence, Sr., M (Neustadt an der Aisch, Germany)
Julian Gressel played a pivotal role in Providence’s rise to the top of the league standings as the Friars extended their winning streak to seven games and claimed at least a share of the 2016 BIG EAST regular season title. Gressel tied for first in the league last week in points with three as he had a goal and an assist in the two-match week. The senior midfielder scored the eventual game winner in the 34th minute in a road win at No. 18 Creighton. The loss was the first for the Bluejays at home this season. Gressel also assisted the insurance goal in the 35th minute in a 2-1 win over Marquette.
BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week
John Freitag, DePaul, So., D (Arlington Heights, Ill.)
Senior defender John Freitag helped DePaul to a 2-0 week with wins over St. John’s and No. 15 Butler as the Blue Demons stay alive in the BIG EAST play off picture and have won four of their last five matches. Freitag shifted from the midfield to reinforce the Blue Demon back line and inspired the defense to back-to-back 1-0 overtime victories - double overtime against No. 15 Butler and overtime at St. John’s. DePaul’s opponents did not score goal last week.
BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Week
Quentin Low, DePaul, Jr., GK (Long Grove, Ill.)
Junior keeper Quentin Low did not allow a goal in 202 minutes for a two-shutout victory week for DePaul. Low helped back up back-to-back one goal games with a total of 11 saves between the pipes for the Blue Demons. In the 1-0 double overtime win over No. 15 Butler, the junior made nine saves, tying for most saves in a league game this season. He stopped three goal attempts by the league-leader in goals, David Goldsmith. In the 1-0 road victory in overtime at St. John’s, Low made two saves. Low has allowed just three goals in the last five matches.
BIG EAST Freshman of the Week
Zach El-Shafei, DePaul, Fr., F/M (Ottawa, Canada)
Freshman Zach El-Shafei scored the game winning goal for the Blue Demons in double overtime against No. 15 Butler on Wednesday, keeping DePaul alive in the playoff picture. El-Shafei took four shots in the 2-0 week, 50 percent were on goal. El-Shafei started in both wins for DePaul as the Blue Demons have won four of their last five matches.
BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll
David Goldsmith, Butler, Sr., F (Bristol, England)
Goldsmith ended his scoring draught to score a header for the game-winning goal in a 2-1 victory over Marquette on Saturday, helping the Bulldogs clinch a playoff berth. Goldsmith leads the league in goals with 11. He had five shots in the loss to DePaul on Wednesday.
Christopher Lema, Georgetown, Jr., M (Ridgefield, N.J.)
Lema assisted two of the Hoyas three goals in a 3-2 victory over Villanova on Saturday. His assists came on the first two goals, the equalizer and the go-ahead goals. He also helped the midfield keep the Pirates scoreless in Georgetown’s 0-0 draw with Seton Hall, helping the Hoyas stay alive in the playoff picture.
Colin Miller, Providence, RS-So., GK (Bel Air, Md.)
Miller had 2-0 week in goal, including a three-save shutout win over No. 18 Creighton on Saturday to clinch a share of the BIG EAST title for the Friars. Miller also had six saves in a 2-0 win over Marquette.
Julian Spindler, Seton Hall, Sr., GK (Weiersbach, Germany)
Spindler made seven saves in a 1-0-1 week for Seton Hall. Spindler made five saves in a 0-0 draw with Georgetown and two in a 2-1 victory over Xavier.
Cameron Taylor, Xavier, RS-So., D (Indianapolis, Ind.)
Taylor scored the golden goal game-winner in the 105th minute to upset No. 18 Creighton on Wednesday in a 2-1 win for the Musketeers. Taylor also assisted on the equalizer in the 80th minute. His three points tied Julian Gressel for most in the league last week.