University of Southern Indiana men’s soccer junior midfielder Sean Rickey(Columbia, Illinois) and sophomore goalkeeper Justin Faas (Carmel, Indiana) swept the Great Lakes Valley Conference Player of the Week awards for their efforts in the Screaming Eagles’ wins over the University of Illinois-Springfield and McKendree University last week.
Rickey earned the GLVC Offensive Player of the Week honor after posting six points on one goal and four assists in the two matches. He started the week with a goal and two assists in the 3-0 victory over Illinois Springfield and concluded with two assists in the 2-1 win over McKendree that propelled the Eagles into sole possession of first in the conference.
For the season, Rickey leads the Eagles with 21 points on a team-high eight goals and five assists. The junior midfielder also has a team-high three game-winning goals, in addition of assisting on both game-winning goals last week. The Offensive Player of the Week award is the first of Rickey’s career and the first by an Eagle since Kasper Bjoro in 2015.
Faas allowed one goal in 180 minutes of action, posting a 0.50 goals against average (GAA) in the two matches. He also made 12 saves, including a career-high seven in the win over Illinois Springfield before finishing the week with five saves and allowing a goal at McKendree.
This fall, Faas has a 0.91 GAA and allowed eight goals in nine matches and 794 minutes of action. He also has a career-high 29 total saves and four shutouts this year. The Defensive Player of the Week award is the first of Faas’ career and the first by an Eagle since Adam Zehme in 2016.
Rickey, Faas, and USI continue their three-match road-swing Friday when they visit Quincy University Friday at 7:30 p.m. Following a quick trip to the University of Indianapolis Sunday to conclude the road swing, the Eagles return to Strassweg Field to start a four-match homestand to conclude the 2018 regular season.
