CLEVELAND, Ohio – Sophomore Ryan Kolonick of the Cleveland State University men's soccer team was selected as the Nike Horizon League Defensive Player of the Week as announced in a league release Monday afternoon.
It's the first career weekly award for Kolonick. He becomes the fourth Viking to win a weekly honor from the league this season, joining Omeed Naeemy, Gabriel Pewu and Jannis Schmidt.
Kolonick was a key piece of the defensive unit as the Vikings went up against Duquesne at home and IUPUI on the road this past week.
Kolonick played all 180 minutes on the back line this past week in helping Cleveland State to two shutout victories. In CSU's midweek win, he helped the Vikings hold Duquesne without a goal for the only time this season. Cleveland State held Duquesne without a shot on goal, the first time the Dukes failed to register one in a match since 2012. Kolonick and his teammates then put forth a shutout in the win over IUPUI this past weekend, making CSU the only team to post a shutout against a league foe this past week. They limited to the Jaguars to just two shots on goal in the win.
Kolonick, who has started every match this season on defense, also got involved on the offensive end as he provided the assist on CSU's game-winning goal against IUPUI.
Kolonick teamed up with fellow defenders Thomas M'Barek and Hayden Parente and goalkeeper Naeemy in playing all 180 minutes in both shutouts. Defenders Saahb Kular and Dan Manolache each started one match on the back line this past week.
Through 11 matches this season, Cleveland State leads the league with its 0.97 goals against average.
Cleveland State is the only school to have multiple student-athletes earn the league's weekly offensive and defensive honors this season.
Cleveland State will open a two-match homestand Saturday night as it welcomes Wright State.