SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Massachusetts midfielder Shane Velez and Kansas City defender Kenny Yedmel collected the latest Kwik Star Summit League Men’s Soccer Peak Performer of the Week accolades, league officials announced Tuesday. Velez captured the Minutemen’s first weekly award of their Summit League era, while Yedmel garnered the defensive honor for the Roos.

Velez helped the Minutemen remain unbeaten by recording his first career brace and adding an assist in a victory over Quinnipiac. The five goals were the most by a Summit League squad in a game this season.

After assisting on the opening goal, the Perkasie, Pa., native pushed the UMass lead to 3-0 with a goal in the opening minute of the second half. That would prove to be the game-winner as the Minutemen held on for the 5-2 triumph.

He added his second goal of the match in the 54^th minute and his five-point performance equals the highest output by a league player through the opening two weeks of the campaign.

Yedmel played all 180 minutes on KC’s back line as the Roos went 1-0-1 last week to remain unbeaten in the early going.

Ranked 19^th in the latest Top Drawer Soccer poll, Yedmel and company bounced back after surrendering an early goal to  No. 24 Missouri State, to hold the Bears scoreless over the final 82-plus minutes as the Roos rallied for a 2-1 victory.

In a 1-1 draw with St. Mary’s, the Roos’ defense allowed only six total shots, including just two after the break as KC scored the equalizer in the 48^th minute to earn the result against the Gaels.
 
OFFENSIVE PEAK PERFORMER OF THE WEEK
Shane Velez, Massachusetts
Jr. | MF | Perkasie, Pa.

• Tallied his first career brace and added an assist in 5-2 victory over Quinnipiac
• Registered eventual game-winning goal less than minute into the second half and struck again in the 54^th minute
• Converted both of his shots with both coming from outside the box
• This is the first career Summit League weekly honor for Velez.

Also nominated: Mathis Guffroy (St. Thomas); Wade Muttitt (Kansas City); Holger Olsson (Denver).
 
DEFENSIVE PEAK PERFORMER OF THE WEEK
Kenny Yedmel
Fr. | D | Bordeaux, France

• Played all 180 minutes during 1-0-1 week for the Roos, which included a win over No. 24 Missouri State
• After surrendering an early Missouri State goal in the eighth minute, held the Bears’ offense scoreless as KC rallied for a 2-1 victory
• Part of back line that limited St. Mary’s to just six total shots in 1-1 draw Friday
• This is the first career Summit League weekly accolade for Elliot.

Also nominated: Gabriel Perazoli Verona (St. Thomas); Aidan Kelly (UMass).
 
2025 Kwik Star Men’s Soccer Peak Performers of the Week
August 26
O: Marius Stenner, Delaware
D: JoJo Elliot Jr., Delaware

September 2
O: Shane Velez, UMass
D: Kenny Yedmel, Kansas City

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