DU’s Kronenberg, ORU’s LaCourse Earn Initial #SummitMSOC Weekly Awards

9/2/2014 12:00:00 AM

ELMHURST, Ill. – Denver forward Eric Kronenberg earned The Summit League's Offensive Player of the Week honor while Oral Roberts goalkeeper Ben LaCourse was named Defensive Player of the Week for men's soccer following opening weekend performances, Aug. 29-Sept. 1. The selections mark the initial weekly awards of the 2014 season.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Eric Kronenberg, Denver
So. // F // Boulder, Colo.
Kronenberg garnered his first career honor after scoring the game-winning goals in a pair of Denver victories over nationally-ranked opponents. Facing No. 24 Cal State Northridge, Kronenberg's goal in the 65^th minute proved to be the difference in a 2-1 win. Two days later, Kronenberg broke a 1-1 deadlock in overtime at the 96^th minute to sink No. 25 Navy. The Pioneer victories marked the first time since 2008 that a Summit League team has defeated two ranked teams in the same season and the first time in history that the feat has been achieved in consecutive games.

Also nominated: Dominic Recca, Eastern Illinois; Jacob Murphy, Fort Wayne; Johnny Chavez, Oral Roberts; Armel Kouassi, Western Illinois

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Ben LaCourse, Oral Roberts
So. // GK // Tulsa, Okla.
LaCourse earned his second career award after recording a shutout in Oral Roberts' 1-0 overtime victory over MVC favorite Missouri State. He made five saves in 103:21 minutes in goal to lift the Golden Eagles to victory in their season opener.

Also nominated: Reagan Dunk, Denver; Raphael Kotzock, Fort Wayne; Christian Lomeli, IUPUI; Yves Dietrich, Western Illinois

ABOUT THE SUMMIT LEAGUE
In its fourth decade of Division I athletics, The Summit League offers 19 championship sports and has a combined enrollment of over 120,000 at nine institutions, including four located in top 60 U.S. metro populations and two land-grant universities. Member institutions include: Denver (University of Denver), Fort Wayne (Indiana University-Purdue University-Fort Wayne), IUPUI (Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis), North Dakota State University, Omaha (University of Nebraska Omaha), Oral Roberts University, the University of South Dakota, South Dakota State University and Western Illinois University. Previously known as the Mid-Continent Conference, The Summit League rebranded in 2007 and has since produced eight NCAA Champions along with over 65 All-Americans, 60 Academic All-America selections and numerous former student-athletes competing at the highest professional level. For more information about the league and to "See The Summit", visit www.thesummitleague.org, follow on Twitter @thesummitleague, download The Summit League's Front Row app, and watch the weekly "Inside The Summit League" show at www.thesummitleague.org/itsl.

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