University of Memphis Athletics
Photo by: Michael Wade
Trio of Tigers Pull in Weekly Awards After Upset over No. 3 SMU
Oct 21, 2019 | Men's Soccer
MEMPHIS, Tennessee – The Memphis men's soccer team was handsomely rewarded after dropping No. 3 SMU in Dallas, Texas last week. Receiving three of the four American Athletic Conference's weekly awards, Artur De Luca was named Offensive Player of the Week and Jackson Morse was named Defensive Player of the Week, while Peter Chang picked up Rookie of the Week honors.
The win over SMU is significant in program history for a number of reasons. With a win over the No. 3 team in the country, Memphis defeated its highest-ranked opponent in program history. Additionally, the Tigers notched a fifth-consecutive road win, a new program record for a road winning-streak.
De Luca takes home Offensive Player of the Week honors after scoring three points against the Mustangs. After assisting on the third goal for the Tigers, De Luca came up huge in overtime, skying in for a header on a corner kick to net the game-winner.
This marks the first weekly award for the Sao Paulo, Brazil native this season. The midfielder won a pair of Honor Roll awards last season from his back line position.
A Dallas, Texas native, Morse received Defensive Player of the Week for helping lead a defense that held the second-ranked scoring offense in the country without a goal in the first half. Morse also scored a goal to tie the game at 2-2 in the 81st minute, getting the Tigers in prime position to score the third goal of regulation.
Morse, who began his Memphis career as an offensive talent, has transitioned himself to a key defender the last couple of seasons for the Tigers. This award marks his first Defensive Player of the Week nod in the senior's career.
Not to be outshined, Chang earned Rookie of the Week after scoring four points against the Mustangs. In the first half, Chang lobbed an assist to Gurman Sangha, as Memphis would score the only goal of the first half. The Parker, Colo., native then assisted Morse's equalizing goal before scoring the third goal of the night in the 86th minute.
Chang is the third freshman on the Memphis squad to earn a Rookie of the Week award. Previously, the midfielder earned an Honor Roll nod after week one.
Memphis returns home for its final nonconference match against Central Arkansas on Tuesday. The match starts at 7 p.m. at Park Avenue Campus. Follow the Tigers on Facebook at /MemphisSoccer and on Twitter at @MemphisMSoccer for more information.
Memphis Award Winners
Sept. 2
Ben Roberts – Defensive Player of the Week
Jovan Prado – Rookie of the Week
Peter Chang – Weekly Honor Roll
Gurman Sangha – Weekly Honor Roll
Sept. 9
Sam Ashton – Weekly Honor Roll
Sept. 16
Sam Ashton – Offensive Player of the Week
Chris Mikus – Weekly Honor Roll
Sept. 23
Alexandros Ierides – Weekly Honor Roll
Sept. 30
Sam Ashton – Weekly Honor Roll
Christoforos Kourtis – Weekly Honor Roll
Oct. 7
Ben Roberts – Defensive Player of the Week
Michael Blanke – Rookie of the Week
Alexandros Ierides – Weekly Honor Roll
Oct. 14
Christoforos Kourtis – Weekly Honor Roll
Oct. 21
Artur De Luca – Offensive Player of the Week
Jackson Morse – Defensive Player of the Week
Peter Chang – Rookie of the Week
The win over SMU is significant in program history for a number of reasons. With a win over the No. 3 team in the country, Memphis defeated its highest-ranked opponent in program history. Additionally, the Tigers notched a fifth-consecutive road win, a new program record for a road winning-streak.
De Luca takes home Offensive Player of the Week honors after scoring three points against the Mustangs. After assisting on the third goal for the Tigers, De Luca came up huge in overtime, skying in for a header on a corner kick to net the game-winner.
This marks the first weekly award for the Sao Paulo, Brazil native this season. The midfielder won a pair of Honor Roll awards last season from his back line position.
A Dallas, Texas native, Morse received Defensive Player of the Week for helping lead a defense that held the second-ranked scoring offense in the country without a goal in the first half. Morse also scored a goal to tie the game at 2-2 in the 81st minute, getting the Tigers in prime position to score the third goal of regulation.
Morse, who began his Memphis career as an offensive talent, has transitioned himself to a key defender the last couple of seasons for the Tigers. This award marks his first Defensive Player of the Week nod in the senior's career.
Not to be outshined, Chang earned Rookie of the Week after scoring four points against the Mustangs. In the first half, Chang lobbed an assist to Gurman Sangha, as Memphis would score the only goal of the first half. The Parker, Colo., native then assisted Morse's equalizing goal before scoring the third goal of the night in the 86th minute.
Chang is the third freshman on the Memphis squad to earn a Rookie of the Week award. Previously, the midfielder earned an Honor Roll nod after week one.
Memphis returns home for its final nonconference match against Central Arkansas on Tuesday. The match starts at 7 p.m. at Park Avenue Campus. Follow the Tigers on Facebook at /MemphisSoccer and on Twitter at @MemphisMSoccer for more information.
Memphis Award Winners
Sept. 2
Ben Roberts – Defensive Player of the Week
Jovan Prado – Rookie of the Week
Peter Chang – Weekly Honor Roll
Gurman Sangha – Weekly Honor Roll
Sept. 9
Sam Ashton – Weekly Honor Roll
Sept. 16
Sam Ashton – Offensive Player of the Week
Chris Mikus – Weekly Honor Roll
Sept. 23
Alexandros Ierides – Weekly Honor Roll
Sept. 30
Sam Ashton – Weekly Honor Roll
Christoforos Kourtis – Weekly Honor Roll
Oct. 7
Ben Roberts – Defensive Player of the Week
Michael Blanke – Rookie of the Week
Alexandros Ierides – Weekly Honor Roll
Oct. 14
Christoforos Kourtis – Weekly Honor Roll
Oct. 21
Artur De Luca – Offensive Player of the Week
Jackson Morse – Defensive Player of the Week
Peter Chang – Rookie of the Week
Players Mentioned
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