MSOC: Huskies make clean sweep of OVC weekly honors

9/12/2023 10:00:00 AM

Herrera chosen for second time in three weeks; Aitken and Sesay claim first honors

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BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — HCU hit the trifecta on Tuesday morning, claiming all three of the Ohio Valley Conference weekly men's soccer honors for the week ending September 10.

D'Alessandro Herrera nabbed Offensive Player of the Week accolades for the second time this season, while Bangelee Sesay and Alex Aitken earned their first honors with being named Defensive Player and Goalkeeper of the Week respectively.

It marks the third straight week to open the 2023 campaign that the Huskies have had at least one player honored by the league.

Herrera's goal with 1:07 to play on Sunday night gave HCU a thrilling finish to the week, as the 1-0 win over Santa Clara helped the Huskies go 1-0-1 on their two-game homestand. Herrera picked up his third goal of the season on a strike from the right side of the 18-yard box to the bottom left corner, just past the outstretched arms of the keeper.

The sophomore from Houston took just two shots, both on goal, and had the game-winner while playing 143 minutes in two matches. He leads the team in points with seven and shots with 11 through six games.

Sesay played all 180 minutes in leading a defensive effort that allowed just one goal in the two matches. The Monrovia, Liberia senior defender/midfielder had the all-important clearance in the back third, leading to a quick counter-attack with Victor Velasco finding Herrera for the game-winner against Santa Clara.

Aitken picked up his first clean sheet of the season after blanking Santa Clara on Sunday night, after allowing just the one goal against ORU on Thursday. He faced 41 total shots, 19 on goal and made 18 total saves.

The sophomore keeper from Great Barford, Bedforshire, England has given up just seven goals in six outings thus far, and currently sits first in the NCAA in total saves and minutes played. He ranks fifth in the country in saves per game at 6.67 per.

Now even across the board at 2-2-2 on the season, HCU will take a 10-day break before heading west for their last pair of non-conference matches.

A matchup with former WAC foe Grand Canyon in Phoenix awaits on September 20, followed by a trip up the California coast to face Pacific three days later.

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Herrera chosen for second time in three weeks; Aitken and Sesay claim first honors

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