BRENTWOOD, Tenn. –
Hans Leza was named with Ohio Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors for the week ending September 22. The sophomore helped HCU to a win over UTRGV in its only time on the pitch last week, a 1-0 thriller to close out the non-conference schedule.
Against the Vaqueros, the sophomore defender from Houston posted a full 90-minute outing for the sixth time in eight matches. Leza led a defensive effort that staved off 10 shots by the visitors including five on goal, helping
Alex Aitken to his first clean sheet on the season.
Leza has played all but 27 minutes in the 2024 campaign and since arriving on Fondren Road, has missed just 72 minutes in 26 matches. As a freshman last year, he started all 18 matches, going the distance 17 times. He has two assists on the season, the most recent a beautiful cross into the box for an awaiting
Ricardo Garcia header to level at ORU on September 14. That was the second goal of the week for
Garcia, leading to his being named the OVC Offensive Player of the Week.
This marks the fifth OVC honor of the season for HCU, with Leza becoming the first two-time recipient.
His previous selection came in week two on September 3, when along with Ethan Giwa-McNeil and Alex Aitken, the Huskies swept the trio of accolades. The aforementioned Garcia was selected on September 17.
HCU finished a hearty non-conference gauntlet with a 2-4-2 mark and is unbeaten in its last three fixtures. The Huskies are in the midst of a 10-day break from action in preparation for the Ohio Valley Conference opener against arch-rival University of the Incarnate Word on Saturday, September 28. That match is the second of four straight to be played at Sorrels Field, with kick-off slated for 7 pm.
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