INDIANAPOLIS – Semifinalists Walsh and Ohio Dominican were each recognized for Great Midwest Athletic Conference Men’s Soccer Players of the Week honors as announced on Tuesday.
Walsh and ODU join top seed Lake Erie and No. 2 Cedarville as the final four teams remaining in the six-team championship bracket.
Semifinal contests will go down on Thursday from Painesville, Ohio, at Jack Britt Stadium with LEC serving as host for the next two rounds.
Offensive Player of the Week
Harry Gardner
Walsh
Forward
Sophomore
Fleet, United Kingdom
Gardner was in on the offensive success of the Cavaliers as the No. 4 seed of the conference tournament was able to oust No. 5 seed Findlay in Saturday’s quarterfinals.
Gardner was credited with the game winner that came in the 29th minute of regulation as the Cavaliers finally broke through the Findlay defense.
He then assisted the game’s final goal, an insurance tally late in the second half off the foot of Patrick O’Halloran.
The sophomore goes into the semifinals tied with two other teammates for second on the team in points. He has 10 points along with Dominic O’Connor and Jac Humphreys.
Defensive Player of the Week
Alvaro Benito
Ohio Dominican
Goalkeeper
Sophomore
Zargoza, Spain
The Panthers benefitted early from a Khalif Hassan missile that held up the rest of the way as Ohio Dominican returned to the semifinals after hosting the final four this spring.
Ranked in a tough Super Region 3, Ohio Dominican is looking to enhance its chances at being a national qualifier with a strong showing on Thursday.
Benito and the ODU defense was stingy, against Tiffin, a dangerous draw because of the Dragons’ conference postseason success as a young league member.
The sophomore made eight stops in 90 minutes, including a critical denial on a PK in the first half, to earn credit for the shutout victory.