SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Omaha’s Junior Casillas and the Denver duo of Oje Ofunrein and Ian Smith garnered the latest TicketSmarter Summit League Men’s Soccer Peak Performer of the Week awards. Casillas and Ofunrein shared the offensive honor, while Smith claimed the defensive honor, league officials announced Monday.

Ofunrein and Casillas broke a nearly five-year hat trick drought by Summit League players as both registered respective three-goal performances in action over the weekend.

Ofunrein’s first career hat trick came against UC San Diego. He scored his first goal against the Tritons just 63 seconds into the contest, then added his second and third just 92 seconds apart in the second half. Ofunrein was the first for a DU player since Andre Shinyashiki posted five during his record-breaking 2018 season.

The Round Rock, Texas native would take over the Division I lead in goals with his seventh of the season in DU’s 2-0 win over Central Arkansas. He put the Pioneers ahead in the 25^th minute giving him the game-winning goals in each of DU’s victories last week.

Casillas had his hat trick completed by the 39^th minute, scoring all three of his goals in just over a 13-minute span in the Mavericks’ 7-0 rout of Chicago State. Casillas opened the scoring in the 26^th minute with his first career goal and tacked on his second in the 33^rd minute.

The Lexington, Neb., native equaled Omaha’s single-match record for goals and points as he added an assist on the Mavericks’ second goal. The last hat trick by a Maverick came in 2017 compliments of Elvir Ibisevic.

Smith anchored a Pioneers’ back line that added two more shutouts, pushing DU’s season total to four in that category. Smith and company did not allow the Tritons to put a shot on frame in Friday’s victory, marking the second time that DU achieved that feat in a game this season.

The Littleton, Colo., native also assisted on both of Ofunrein’s game-winning goals as Denver capped its season-opening, six-game homestand with a 4-0-2 record.

CO-PEAK PERFORMERS OF THE WEEK
Junior Casillas, Omaha
Jr. | MF | Lexington, Neb.

• Record Omaha’s first hat trick since 2017 with the first three goals of his Maverick career
• Scored goals in the 26^th, 33^rd and 39^th-minutes in a 7-0 rout of Chicago State
• Also registered his first career assist on Omaha’s second goal
• Tied Omaha’s single-match record with seven points
• This is the first career Summit League weekly honor for Casillas

Oje Ofunrein, Denver
Jr. | F | Round Rock, Texas

• Recorded his first career hat trick in a 4-0 win over UC San Diego
• Scored just 63 seconds into the win and added goals in the 57^th and 59^th-minutes
• Took over the Division I goal-scoring lead at seven with the game-winner vs. Central Arkansas
• This is the second career Summit League weekly honor for Ofunrein

Also nominated: Luke Hoelting (Kansas City); Juan Moreno (Oral Roberts).
 
DEFENSIVE PEAK PERFORMER OF THE WEEK
Ian Smith, Denver
So. | D | Littleton, Colo.

• Anchored back line in shutout victories over UC San Diego and Central Arkansas
• DU did not surrender a shot on goal in 4-0 win over the Tritons
• Assisted on both of DU’s game-winning goals over the weekend
• This is the first career Summit League weekly defensive accolade and second overall for Smith

 Also nominated: Lute Lillo Portero (Omaha); Jakub Grzesiak (Oral Roberts); Mael Caisson (Kansas City).
 
2023 Men’s Soccer Peak Performers of the Week
August 28
O: Juan Moreno, Oral Roberts
D: Jason Belloli, Denver

September 5
O: Luis Flores, Oral Roberts
D: Jakub Grzesiak, Oral Roberts

September 11
O: Junior Casillas, Omaha
O: Oje Ofunrein, Denver
D: Ian Smit, Denver

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