Big South Announces Men's Soccer Players of the Week - Sept. 22

Big South Announces Men's Soccer Players of the Week - Sept. 22

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. (www.BigSouthSports.com) – Radford forward Kenshin Akimoto (Chiba, Japan) and USC Upstate forward Vitalis Takawira Jr. (Harare, Zimbabwe) have been named the Big South Men’s Soccer Co-Offensive Players of the Week, while Gardner-Webb defender Leo Andrade (Sao Paulo, Brazil) is the Defensive Player of the Week for matches played Sept. 15-21, it was announced today. In addition, Runnin’ Bulldogs forward Javan Ochieng (Kisumu, Kenya) has been selected as the Freshman of the Week.
 
Akimoto scored twice and added an assist to factor in all three goals of Radford’s 3-0 win over Longwood. The junior set up the opening score one minute before halftime, then tallied goals in the 61st and 70th minutes to extend the Highlanders’ lead. He placed four of his five shots on frame in 73 minutes while helping Radford secure its first Big South opener victory since 2017.
 
Takawira Jr. tallied six points on two goals and two assists in a pair of USC Upstate wins. The senior scored twice in an 18-second span during a 3-2 victory over Wofford, finding the net at 7:02 and 7:20 for the game’s first two goals. He then assisted on both of Oskar Kaufmann’s scores in the 49th and 53rd minutes to lead the Spartans past UNC Asheville, 4-0. Takawira Jr. finished the week with three shots, all on target, in 135 minutes of action.
 
Andrade anchored No. 18 Gardner-Webb’s defense in consecutive shutout victories. The senior helped limit Lipscomb to two shots on goal in a 3-0 road win Tuesday, then held Winthrop to five shots, one on target and no corner kicks in a 4-0 victory to open Big South play. Andrade totaled 154 minutes on the week.
 
Ochieng scored three goals off the bench in two Gardner-Webb wins. The freshman recorded his first career brace at Lipscomb, netting the game winner in the 35th minute before adding a second goal in the 55th. He then scored the Runnin’ Bulldogs’ second goal in the 35th minute of a 4-0 home win over Winthrop. Ochieng placed five of his seven shots on target in 84 combined minutes.
 
Also nominated for Offensive Player of the Week: Robbie Lyons (Gardner-Webb) and Daniel Lugo (High Point).
 
Also nominated for Defensive Player of the Week: Ben Miller (Radford) and Jarrett Wuerslin (USC Upstate).
 
Also nominated for Freshman of the Week: Lucas Bergfors (USC Upstate).