SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – For the second straight week, Denver swept the Summit League Men’s Soccer Peak Performer of the Week awards, league officials announced Monday. The Pioneer honorees this week were midfield Ben Smith, who earned the offensive nod, and defender Ian Smith, who collected his league-leading third defensive nod of the season.

Smith and Smith helped lead Denver to a pair of Summit wins, which secured the program’s 10^th regular season title.

Ben Smith turned in the second multi-point game of his career when he assisted on the opening goal and delivered the game-winning goal in a 2-1 home win over Kansas City that pushed the Pioneers past the Roos in the league standings.

Ian Smith helped the DU defense limit the Roos to just one shot on goal in Wednesday’s victory, then was instrumental in keeping ORU off the scoreboard in a 1-0 victory for the Pioneers that clinched the title outright.

Smith also scored the lone goal of the match when he finished off a cross from Ronan Wynne in the 62^nd minute.

With the two wins, the Pioneers moved up to the No. 2 spot in the Top Drawer Soccer national poll.

OFFENSIVE PEAK PERFORMERS OF THE WEEK
Ben Smith, Denver
RSr. | MF | Centennial, Colo.

• Assisted on the opening goal and tallied the game-winner in 2-1 victory over Kansas City
• Marked his second career multi-point game
• This is the first career offensive honor for Smith and third overall weekly award of his career

Also nominated: Luis Flores (Oral Roberts); Hector Taboada (Kansas City).
 
DEFENSIVE PEAK PERFORMER OF THE WEEK
Ian Smith, Denver
RJr. | D | Littleton, Colo.

• Helped limit one of the league’s top offenses to one shot on goal in 2-1 victory over Kansas City
• Contributed to a back line that held ORU scoreless and delivered game-winning goal in 1-0 win at Oral Roberts
• This is the third defensive weekly honor of the season for Smith and fifth overall weekly award of his career

Also nominated: Joao Mesquita (Oral Roberts); Adam Lansdown (Kansas City).

2024 Men’s Soccer Peak Performers of the Week
August 26
O: Keegan Kelly, Denver
O: Elie Kisoka, Kansas City
D: Ian Smith, Denver

September 3
O: Omar Mora, Oral Roberts
D: Naz Astwood, Omaha

September 9
O: Raphael Kistmann, Kansas City
D: Isaac Nehme, Denver

September 16
O: Luis Flores, Oral Roberts
D: Ben Smith, Denver

September 23
O: Jose Estrada, Oral Roberts
D: Joao Mesquita, Oral Roberts

September 30
O: Elie Kisoka, Kansas City
D: Joao Mesquita, Oral Roberts

October 7
O: Oje Ofunrein, Denver
D: Ian Smith, Denver

October 14
O: Elie Kisoka, Kansas City
D: Brandon McGaugh, Kansas City

October 21
O: Faris Colic, St. Thomas
D: Moritz Krenc, St. Thomas

October 28
O: Bryce Willoughby, Denver
D: Ronan Wynne, Denver

November 4
O: Ben Smith, Denver
D: Ian Smith, Denver

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