SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Oral Roberts forward Luis Flores and Denver midfielder Ben Smith claimed the latest Summit League Men’s Soccer Peak Performer of the Week awards, league officials announced Monday. Flores earned the first offensive accolade of his season and fifth of his career, while Smith became the third different Pioneer to earn the defensive honor in four tries this season.

Flores, the reigning Summit League Offensive Player of the Year, scored the first three goals of his season as Oral Roberts earned a pair of 2-2 draws last week at Tulsa and vs. Houston Christian.

The Lufkin, Texas native tallied his first brace of the season and sixth multi-goal game of his career against the crosstown rival Golden Hurricane. Flores first scored in open play at the 44^th minute to give ORU a 1-0 lead at half, then put the Golden Eagles back ahead in the 61^st minute from the penalty spot.

The next time out vs. HCU, Flores once again scored from the penalty spot in the 66^th minute to stake his squad to a 2-0 advantage. He led the Summit League in goals a season ago with 15.

Smith helped DU cap its season-opening, six-game road trip with a 0-0 draw at (6/4) UCLA last Monday, yielding only two shots on goals to the Bruins. The Centennial, Colo., native then helped the Pioneers open a five-game homestand with a 4-1 win over Yale.

The Bulldogs only mustered one shot on goal as DU improved to 4-0-3 to start the season and take over the top spot in the Top Drawer Soccer Top 25.

OFFENSIVE PEAK PERFORMERS OF THE WEEK
Luis Flores, Oral Roberts
Sr. | F | Lufkin, Texas

• Tallied sixth career multi-goal game in a 2-2 draw with Tulsa
• Pushed ORU’s lead to 2-0 with a goal from the penalty spot in eventual draw with HCU
• This is the fifth career Summit League weekly honor for Flores and first of his season

Also nominated: Sam Bassett (Denver); Elie Kisoka (Kansas City); Colic Faris (St. Thomas).
 
DEFENSIVE PEAK PERFORMER OF THE WEEK
Ben Smith, Denver
Sr. | MF | Centennial, Colo.

• Limited (6/4) UCLA to just two shots on goal in 0-0 draw with the Bruins
• Held Yale to one shot on goal in a 4-1 victory over Bulldogs in DU’s home opener
• This is the second career weekly honor for Smith and first of his season

Also nominated: Cole Brevyn (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

#SummitMSOC