Marquette and Villanova Share #BEfutbol Weekly Honors
BIG EAST Offensive Player & Freshman of the Week
Luka Prpa, Marquette, Fr., M (Wind Lake, Wis.)
Marquette’s rookie midfielder had a league best 12 points (four goals and four assists) in a 2-0 week for the Golden Eagles. Luka Prpa had consecutive six-point efforts, helping Marquette to wins over Northern Illinois and Illinois-Chicago. Prpa, who leads the nation in assists while ranking fourth in goals, had a hand in each of the team’s eight goals scored last week, resulting in the first time since 2001 that Marquette has scored four goals in back-to-back games. Prpa’s back-to-back two-goal, two-assist efforts is something not accomplished by a Marquette player, much less a freshman, in the 53-year history of the program.
BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week
Nikkye DePoint, Villanova, Fr., D (Rochester, N.Y.)
One of two starting freshmen center backs for the Wildcats, DePoint helped handle No. 11/6 Boston College on Sunday holding the Eagles to just eight shots on goal. DePoint helped anchor a defense that held BC to one goal en route to a 2-1 upset victory for Villanova on the road. DePoint also added his first career goal to his resume, scoring on a header in Villanova’s 2-1 loss at Harvard. His goal was too little too late for the Wildcats as it went in during the 83rd minute.
BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Week
Will Steiner, Villanova, Jr., GK (Point Lookout, N.Y.)
Junior keeper Will Steiner played a pivotal role as Villanova knocked off previously unbeaten and No. 11/6 Boston College on Sunday. He made seven saves, including several of the spectacular variety, to help the Wildcats offset a 14-3 deluge of shots from the Eagles. Steiner’s play helped the Wildcats notch their first win of the season. Steiner’s seven saves were a league high for the week.
BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll
Lewis Suddick, Butler, Fr., M (Newcastle upon Tyne, England)
Against IUPUI netted a hat trick and added an assist for seven points in a game, an individual high around the league so far this season.
Quentin Low, DePaul, Jr., GK (Long Grove, Ill.)
Named to the Chicago Classic All-Tournament team. Playing 170:13 minutes in goal for the Blue Demons, he did not allow one shot to get by. DePaul went 2-0 last week with wins over Albany and Northern Kentucky.
Julian Gressel, Providence, Sr., M (Neustadt an der Aisch, Germany)
Aided Providence to even their record with a two-win week that included a goal and an assist for Gressel. His goal was the game-winner in the 2-1 win over Holy Cross. Gressel also assisted the only goal in the 1-0 win at Bryant on Sunday.
Harry Cooksley, St. John’s, Jr., F (London, England)
Third in the league behind Prpa and Suddick in points per game this week (2.50), had two goals and two assists in 1-1 week for St. John’s, had a goal and an assist in the double overtime 3-2 loss at No. 6 Syracuse. Assisted the game-tying goal.
Jake Ciricillo, Xavier, Sr., GK (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Ciricillo had a career-best five saves between the pipes in an eventual 1-1 double overtime tie with No. 12 Virginia. He faced 18 shots, six on frame. The goal against him was scored in the 61st
t minute off corner kick rebound.