GLIAC -- The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) has announced its weekly awards following Week 3 of the 2024 men's soccer season. Purdue Northwest graduate forward Jacob Battistta was recognized as GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week while St. Cloud State senior goalkeeper Ramy Atia was named GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Jacob Battista, Purdue Northwest
Jacob Battista had a phenomenal week for the Pride offensively. He totaled nine points with four goals and an assist. In a 5-0 win vs. St. Xavier, he scored his first career hat trick to lead Purdue Northwest and then played a key role helping the Pride battle to a 2-2 draw to begin GLIAC play at #22 Parkside with a goal and an assist. Battista currently leads the team in goals and points while also ranks tied second in the GLIAC in goals and second in total points so far this season.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Ramy Atia, St. Cloud State
St. Cloud State senior goalkeeper Ramy Atia was lights out in the Huskies undefeated week. In St. Cloud State’s 3-1 win against Jamestown on Tuesday, Atia shutout the Jimmies in the first half with no goals allowed while recording three saves. In the Huskies GLIAC opener against Northern Michigan on Saturday, Atia again recorded three saves and came up with the game-winning assist off a free kick in the 83rd minute as the Huskies beat the Wildcats 2-1. For the week, Atia finished tied for first in the conference in saves (6), led the conference in save percentage (.857), led the conference in goals against average (0.67) in 135 minutes of play, and allowed the least goals of any goalkeeper in the conference with one.
HONORABLE MENTION
Offense: Andrew Dykstra (Davenport), Christopher Estrada (Parkside), Sheikh Manneh (Saginaw Valley State), Alessandro Scialanga (Northern Michigan)
Defense: Alberto Harranz (Saginaw Valley State), Jacob Lee (Davenport)
