College Soccer News – Men’s National Team of the Week – Week Ending October 18, 2020

The College Soccer News Team of the Week features impact players on both sides of the ball who contributed to the success that their team enjoyed during a week of play that included more than the usual number of of close contests. 

	James Brighton – Sophomore – Forward – Clemson – Brighton returned the rebound of teammate Grayson Barber’s shot into the bottom right corner of the net and drove a header into back of the net from the middle of the box in overtime to give Clemson a hard fought 2-1 win over a determined Duke team.
	Deandre Kerr – Freshman – Forward – Syracuse – Kerr made a nice move to create the angle he needed to score from just inside the box and also found the back of the net after receiving a cross from Hilli Goldhar in Syracue’s 2-2 tie with ACC foe Louisville. Syracuse is 0-2-1.
	Kimarni Smith – Senior – Forward – Clemson – Smith scored from within the box after receiving a cross from Grayson Barber and assisted on Luis Felipe Fernandez-Salvador game winning goal in Clemson’s 2-1 win over Wake Forest.  He also suppleid the helper on James Brighton’s game winning goal over Duke. Clemson is 4-1-0.
	Kyle Holcomb – Junior – Forward – Wake Forest – Holcomb decisively placed a header into the back of the net in overtime after receiving a well played and timed cross from sophomore midfielder Omar Hernandez. The Deacons rebound from a 2-1 loss to Clemson with a 1-0 win over UNC to improve to 4-1-0.
	Valentin Noel – Sophomore – Midfielder – Pittsburgh – Noel scored twice in the first half to play a key role in the Panthers 3-2 on the road win in overtime against Virginia. Noel has scored four goals to date for the Panthers who are now 4-0-0 overall with a 3-0-0 mark in ACC action.
	David Jackson – Freshman – Midfielder – Navy – Jackson contributed the assist on junior defender Matt Nocita’s goal and scored the game-winner  when he alertly returned  the rebound of his own missed penalty kick back into the net. The Midshipmen open the fall 2020 season with a solid  2-1 on the road win over NC State.
	Kalil ElMedkhar – Senior – Midfielder – Kentucky – ElMedkhar scored out of a give and go with Eythor Bjorgolfsson and assisted on the goal scored by teammate Bailey Rouse in Kentucky’s 3-1 win over Mercer. He also converted a penalty kick in Kentucky’s 2-1 win over UAB. The Wildcats improve to 5-1-0.
	Andrew Bennett – Freshman – Midfielder – Georgia State – Bennett scored twice and assisted on the goal scored by teammate Matthew Fearnley to help power Georgia State past rival Georgia Southern 3-1. Georgia State also defeated UAB 4-1 earlier in the week. The Panthers improve to 7-1-0 with a 2-1-0 mark in Sun Belt Conference play.
	Marcelo Lage – Junior – Defender – Coastal Carolina – Lage scored in the Chanticleers 3-2 win over Central Arkansas with an assist from Marcello Jones. He also controlled a loose ball from within the box and deposited it into the back of the net to give Coastal Carolina the edge they needed to top Central Arkansas 1-0 in overtime.
	Arturo Ordonez – Sophomore – Defender – Pittsburgh – Ordonez drove a header into the back of the frame in overtime out of a corner kick served in by sophomore defender Raphael Crivello to give the Panthers the edge they needed to top Virginia 3-2 in Charlottesville. Pitt improves to 4-0-0.
	Tor Saunders – Senior – Goalkeeper – Coastal Carolina – Saunders had a nine save evening in goal in Coastal Carolina’s 3 to 2 win over Central Arkansas on Friday and ten save contest in the Chanticleers 1-0 win in overtime against Central Arkansas on Sunday.