SIOUX CITY, Iowa – For the second time this season, the (RV) Northwestern College men’s soccer team (7-1-1, 3-0 GPAC) have swept the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) men’s soccer player of the week honors, the league office announced this morning.
Junior Ezekiel Foltz (Jr., Sioux Center, Iowa/Sioux Center) – defending NAIA Defender of the Week – has defended his GPAC honor with another successful week in goal for the Raiders. Continuing his solid play in the net for the Raiders, collecting 11 saves in the two victories over No. 22 Morningside (2-1) and then 2-0 Concordia (1-0), maintaining a saves percentage of .917 on the week. Foltz has now earned three GPAC Defensive Player of the Week honors this season.
For the first time this season, junior midfielder James Bolger (Boyle, Republic of Ireland/Abbey Community College) has been named the GPAC Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts in helping the Raiders go 2-0 on the week, and remain unbeaten at 3-0 in league play. He netted the game winning goal in the 100th minute with less than 10 seconds left to go in the first overtime period. The goal marked his first of the season.
The Raiders sit 7-1-1 (3-0 GPAC) on the season and receiving three votes in the last NAIA Coaches’ Poll that was released last Wednesday, Sept. 22. The next coaches’ poll drops tomorrow, Wednesday, Sept. 29. Northwestern now has five shutouts on the season in their nine games played.
Northwestern notched their first win over a nationally-ranked opponent at home in No. 22 Morningside for the first time since 2012. It also marks the first win over a ranked opponent at any time since 2018.
Northwestern returns to the pitch Wednesday evening when they travel to Yankton, S.D. to square off with GPAC foe Mount Marty (3-3-1, 1-2 GPAC) with a 6:30 p.m. kickoff.
