Men’s Soccer Player of the Week: Matteo Landais, Georgia Southwestern
Landais scored two game-winning goals as the Hurricanes were the only PBC team to open the 2022 season with a 2-0 record. The junior midfielder from Vitre, France, scored the opening goal in GSW’s 3-0 win over Southern Wesleyan, taking three shots in the game. Against North Greenville, the game entered the 90th minute tied at 2-2. GSW pressed with a shot that was deflected in the box, putting the ball in the air. Landais swung with his left foot before the ball could drop, driving it into the right upper corner of the goal with 56 seconds left to play as GSW won 3-2. He added an assist on GSW’s first goal. Landais is tied atop the Peach Belt with two goals and is tied for second with five points.
Men’s Soccer Defender of the Week: Mohammed Amine Mahrous, Georgia Southwestern
Mahrous led a Hurricane defense that recorded a 3-0 shutout of Southern Wesleyan in the season opener and made a key save in a 3-2 win over North Greenville. The senior center back from Marrakech, Morocco, helped hold SWU to eight total shots in their game, just one of those on goal in the shutout. Against North Greenville, he made a game-saving save with four seconds left. After GSW took a 3-2 lead with 56 seconds on the clock, NGU stormed back, earning a corner with 15 seconds to play. The initial attack drew out the GSW keeper, leaving Mahrous in the goal as a quick cross led to a second shot that he saved with his chest with four seconds remaining. GSW is currently second overall with a 1.00 team goals against average, lowest among PBC schools with more than one game played.
Men’s Soccer Goalkeeper of the Week: Hazel Ley, North Georgia
Ley built a brick wall in goal and beat the Chargers 3-1 on the road. The junior keeper from Monterrey, Mexico, gave up one goal and made an eye-popping 16 saves in the victory. Making his first start as a Nighthawk, he allowed the lone goal just before halftime as UAH led 1-0. But that would be all the Chargers would get as he made seven second-half saves as UNG came back with three goals. The Nighthawks were outshot 27-6 in the game, including 17 UAH shots on goal. All but one were turned back by Ley, who made 16 overall saves which is tied for sixth-most in a game in PBC history and the first time a league keeper has had 16 or more since 2018.
For a complete list of men’s soccer weekly award winners, please click here.