SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Omaha swept the final TickterSmarter #SummitMSOC weekly awards with Kenji Mboma Dem claiming the offensive honor and Nathanael Sallah collecting his second consecutive defensive accolade, league officials announced Monday. Both players proved integral in helping the Mavericks clinch a berth in the upcoming 2021 Men’s Soccer Championship.

For Mboma Dem, the first game-winning goal of his career was an important one as it secured a postseason spot for the Mavericks as they will be the No. 3 seed in Macomb.

The French native’s one-time, left-footed blast found the back of the net in the 97^th minute to lift Omaha to a 1-0 overtime win against Western Illinois. It was the second goal of the season for the sophomore, who leads the Mavericks with seven points on the campaign (2G, 3A).

Sallah became the first defensive player to earn the weekly award in back-to-back weeks this season after registering four saves in his third shutout of league play. Each of those saves came after halftime, including one in the opening 20 seconds of the extra session.
 
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Kenji Mboma Dem, Omaha
So. | F | Plaisir, France

• Scored game-winning and postseason-clinching goal on a one-timer in the 97^th minute
• Leads the Mavericks with seven points on the campaign
• This is the first career Summit League weekly honor for Mboma Dem

Also nominated: Arne Neufang, Kansas City, Nathan Ndomba, Oral Roberts; Kengo Ohira, Denver.
 
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Nathanael Sallah, Omaha
Fr. | GK | Hamburg, Germany

• Registered four saves in second consecutive league shutout, 1-0 overtime win against WIU
• Becomes first defensive player to earn award in back-to-back weeks
• This is the first career Summit League weekly accolade for Sallah

Also nominated: Jason Belloli, Denver; Kotaro Hirokawa, Kansas City; Miles Motakef, Oral Roberts.

2021 Men’s Soccer Players of the Week
August 30
O: Dante Brigida, Oral Roberts
D: Cooper Clark, Kansas City
 
September 7
O: Felipe D’Agostini, Oral Roberts
D: Will DeSantis, Denver
 
September 13
O: Lukas Fisher, Denver
D: Josselyn Petel, Oral Roberts
 
September 20
O: Lukas Fisher, Denver
D: Cooper Clark, Kansas City
 
September 27
O: Brennan Rzewuski, Eastern Illinois
D: Jonathan Burke, Eastern Illinois
 
October 4
O: Lukas Fisher, Denver
D: Dominik Danis, Omaha
 
October 11
O: Stefan DeLeone, Denver
D: Logan Bellone, Oral Roberts
 
October 18
O: Dante Brigida, Oral Roberts
D: Liam Johnson, Denver
 
October 25, 2021
O: Jony Munoz, Kansas City
D: Niklas Martensson, St. Thomas
 
November 1, 2021
O: Wes Lorrens, St. Thomas
D: Nathanael Sallah, Omaha
 
November 8, 2021
O: Kenji Mboma Dem, Omaha
D: Nathanael Sallah, Omaha

#SummitMSOC