CENTER VALLEY, Pa. – The Patriot League announced its weekly men's soccer award winners on Monday, with Loyola University Maryland accounting for three of the conference's five honorees.
Josh Fawole was chosen as the Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week,
Davey Mason was named Defensive Player of the Week and
Eddy Rodriguez earned Midfielder of the Week accolades. Fawole and Mason each receive their third-career weekly awards, while Rodriguez is recognized for the first time.
Loyola (8-7-1, 5-2 Patriot League) went 1-0-1 in its two contests last week, earning a memorable 1-1 draw at No. 2 Wake Forest and posting a dominant 8-1 victory over Holy Cross on Saturday. The Greyhounds are up to second place in the Patriot League standings, just two points back of first-place Lehigh with two games remaining in the regular season.
Fawole (Columbia, Md./Long Reach) scored in both games for Loyola, continuing a hot stretch in which he has contributed five goals and an assist over the team's last seven contests. He provided the tying goal at Wake Forest, scoring with just 12 seconds remaining in regulation. The goal, a sliding half-volley directed just under the crossbar, was featured at No. 6 on Sports Center's top 10 plays for the evening. Fawole then added another goal in Saturday's win over Holy Cross, helping Loyola match a Patriot League record for most goals scored in a conference game.
The eight goals were the most for Loyola in a contest since Oct. 22, 1999. Fawole ranks third on the team with 13 points (6 G, 1 A) on the year.
Mason (Bethesda, Md./Walt Whitman) had a pair of assists on Saturday, and he also was the primary instigator for an own goal which turned out to be the game-winning strike, sending a cross from the left side which was put in by a Holy Cross defender. On Tuesday, he was part of a defensive effort which held No. 2 Wake Forest without a single shot on goal over the final 77 minutes of game action. With the 1-1 draw, Loyola snapped a nine-game home winning streak for the Demon Deacons. Mason has one goal and five assists overall this season.
Rodriguez (York, Pa./West York) recorded an assist in each game last week, giving him points in each of Loyola's last three contests. He set up Fawole's tying strike at Wake Forest, sending a cross from 25 yards out on the right side straight on to Fawole's cleat. Rodriguez then had the secondary helper on a
Brian Saramago strike on Saturday, assisting on the third of Loyola's eight goals. He has appeared in all 16 games for the Greyhounds in 2019, earning starts in the central midfield in eight of those contests.
Eight Greyhounds have now combined for 13 Patriot League weekly awards so far this season, with
Barry Sharifi (3x),
Jonathan Sousa (2x),
Chase Vosvick (2x),
Justin Ingram and Saramago also earning recognition.
Daniel Osuji, who scored his third goal of the fall in Saturday's victory, was included among those receiving honorable mention accolades this week.
Loyola is back in action next Saturday, traveling to Boston University for a Patriot League matchup scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.
