The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) has announced its weekly awards following Week 1 of the 2026 men's soccer season. Roosevelt forward Fynn Mewes (Offensive Player of the Week) and Purdue Northwest goalkeeper Estefano Alvear (Defensive Player of the Week) were recognized.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Fynn Mewes, Roosevelt
Fynn Mewes is the first GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week of the 2026 season after a marvelous opening weekend for Roosevelt. The graduate student from Germany played a part in all three Lakers goal this season, scoring twice and adding an assist in Roosevelt’s 1-0-1 start to the season. Mewes scored the only goal in the Lakers’ opening-day tie with Upper Iowa before adding his goal and assist in Roosevelt’s 2-0 win over No. 21 Cedarville at home. The forward scored nine minutes into the game against the ranked Yellow Jackets then whipped a second-half corner kick into the box for Nikola Dimitrijevic to head home the insurance tally.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Estefano Alvear, Purdue Northwest
Purdue Northwest Men's Soccer freshman goalkeeper Estefano Alvear has made an immediate impact for Purdue University Northwest, opening his collegiate career with back-to-back clean sheets and helping the Lions begin the season with a perfect 2-0 record. Alvear started both matches during the opening week, playing all 180 minutes in goal and allowing zero goals. He opened his collegiate career with a shutout at Lewis on Thursday, making six saves while helping PNW secure a 1-0 road victory. Alvear followed that performance with another clean sheet in Sunday’s 1-0 home-opening victory over Northwood, recording two saves to preserve the shutout. Through his first two collegiate appearances, Alvear has yet to concede a goal, posting a 0.00 goals-against average and a perfect 1.000 save percentage. He has made eight saves while facing 15 total shots and has recorded two wins and two shutouts. The freshman’s immediate success has been a major factor in Purdue Northwest’s 2-0 start. Beginning a collegiate career with two consecutive clean sheets is an impressive accomplishment, and Alvear has already established himself as a steady presence between the posts for the Lions.
HONORABLE MENTION
Offense: Andrés García (St. Cloud State), Luca Rosen (Northern Michigan), Matty Telfer (Saginaw Valley State)
Defense: Kai Forsyth (Saginaw Valley State), Davian Gumbs (Northern Michigan), André Walters (St. Cloud State)
