INDIANAPOLIS – Great Midwest Athletic Conference Men’s Soccer Players of the Week awards were announced for both sides of the ball to Ohio Dominican and No. 13 Lake Erie as the league schedule continues.
 
A battle of nationally-ranked teams unfolded Sunday as No. 13 Lake Erie bested No. 21 Tiffin. The Storm’s eight-game win streak to start the year has opened plenty of eyes around the country as they look to break into the United Soccer Coaches Top 10 this week.
 
Lake Erie is undefeated and with 12 conference points in the standings, opened up what is a considerable lead in the race for regular-season honors and top seed for the Great Midwest Championship.
 
Three teams are tied in second place with seven points including Alderson Broaddus, Tiffin and Walsh. AB took care of business against Walsh and Malone, going into overtime to get three points in the standings vs. the Pioneers.
 
Despite the loss to AB, Walsh impressed on the road with a win at Ohio Valley, upping its record to 6-1-1 overall on the year. Findlay and Ohio Valley are both tied with six points in the standings for fifth, respectively.
 
Offensive Player of the Week
Jaxson Szabo
Ohio Dominican
Defense
Junior
Worthington, OH (Thomas Worthington HS)
 
Szabo, listed as a defender on the official roster, put on an offensive clinic in two games for the Panthers with a stellar individual effort.
 
The junior team captain produced five goals for a total of 10 points in just two games, getting ODU into the conference win column.
 
On Thursday, the Panthers took Kentucky Wesleyan into overtime, and Szabo was a bright spot as he played 91 minutes.
 
Szabo scored both of his team’s goals late in the second half to tie the game up and ultimately send it to overtime. Despite the outcome, his offensive attack continued into the weekend.
 
Szabo followed up his two-goal performance on Thursday with a hat trick against Trevecca Nazarene on Saturday. 
 
The Panthers won 3-2 and Szabo scored all three of his goals in the first half. The first goal came within a minute of play and just three minutes later, he followed it up with another one. After five minutes, the Panthers led 2-0 and later in the first half the junior netted his third as the game winner.
 
Ohio Dominican returns home to Columbus this week to face conference opponents Alderson Broaddus and Ohio Valley.
 
Defensive Player of the Week
Tom John
#13 Lake Erie
Goalkeeper
Junior
Ahrensburg, Germany (Tennis Borussia Berlin) 
 
John and the Storm defensive unit has been stingy as much as anyone in the country as LEC reeled off two more league victories.
 
John’s second conference weekly honor of the season comes after the 13th-ranked LEC program outscored Findlay and No. 21 Tiffin by a combined total of 6-1.
 
The junior stopper made six saves and allowed only one goal during the two matches. 
 
John has been nothing short of stellar for the undefeated Storm this year. He has only allowed three goals all season and the Storm have also outscored opponents 16-3 on the year. 
 
The German will look to continue to be dominant in between the sticks as the Storm host Malone and travel to Walsh later this week.