BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – Houston Christian University swept the Ohio Valley Conference weekly men's soccer accolades for the period of September 7-13 after the Huskies won their only outing of the week, a 1-0 decision at Grand Canyon on Monday night.
Clarenns Sainrimat was named Offensive Player of the Week,
Nico Kross earned Defensive Player of the Week and
Harvey Heeps took home his second Goalkeeper of the honor of the season.
The Huskies went into Phoenix and worked hard to claim the Labor Day win over former WAC foe Grand Canyon. In the 33rd minute, Sainrimat claimed a long free kick from Heeps and smashed a shot from the right side across the goalkeepers face into the left corner to give HCU a lead they wouldn't relinquish.
Sainrimat, a junior from Marcoussis, France, put home his only shot of the week for his first game-winner. The score opened the HCU account for the transfer from Tusculum College.
A shutout was had in strong part by the efforts of
Nico Kross on the backline. The senior from Heidenheim continues to anchor an injury-riddled defense through a tough non-conference schedule, one ranked 64th toughest in the nation and boasting a gauntlet of offense.
An All-OVC first team selection last year after transferring from East Tennessee State, Kross earns his second career weekly honor after playing all 90 minutes and providing three blocked shots and a clearance late that helped preserve the victory.
Heeps picks up his second honor of the season. The redshirt freshman has stepped admirably into the shoes of All-OVC goalkeeper
Alex Aitken on the heels of his record-breaking career.
Like Aitken a native of Bedfordshire, England native, Heeps earned his second clean sheet of the season by making a career-high nine stops while facing 27 shots. He also chipped in the assist on the Monday game-winning goal with a long free kick that cleared its way through traffic on onto the foot of Sainrimat for the finish. It is the first helper by an HCU keeper since Chance Pope turned the trick on October 18, 2015 at Air Force.
It is the second time ever for the Huskies to sweep the OVC weekly honors. HCU previously won all three honors on September 3, 2024 when Ethan Giwa-McNeil,
Hans Leza and
Alex Aitken captured the trio of awards.
HCU is 2-3-1 overall on the season and return home to Sorrels Field on Wednesday evening for the penultimate non-conference match of the season, hosting Florida Gulf Coast University. Kick-off is slated for 7:00 pm.
#DawgsUp
