Fineman Grabs First CCIW Defensive Player of The Week Accolade

Titans are recognized in back-to-back weeks

10/26/2021 11:50:00 AM

NAPERVILLE, Ill. - Freshman goalkeeper Ethan Fineman (Highland Park, Ill.-Highland Park) of the Illinois Wesleyan University men's soccer team was named the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Defensive Player of the Week, announced Tuesday, Oct. 26. This is Fineman's first weekly award of his career, as well as the first by an IWU goalkeeper since Alex Ruckstaetter was honored Sept. 9, 2019.

The Highland Park, Ill. native is the second Titan to earn the weekly award this season as senior Zack Kokes (Naperville, Ill.-Naperville Central) earned the weekly offensive award last week, Oct. 19. Fineman is the first to pick up the defensive honor this year.

Fineman has been a crucial part of the Titans now three-game winning streak. The freshman recorded his fourth and fifth consecutive starts between the posts for the Green and White during this past week's matches. IWU first saw CCIW's Elmhurst University Wednesday, Oct. 20 where they soared past the Bluejays 3-0, before securing a 2-1 win on Carroll University's territory Saturday, Oct. 23.

Against Elmhurst, Fineman picked up his first shutout with the 3-0 win where he was credited with a career-high four saves as the backbone in the Titans defense. The Bluejays had six corners to the Titans two in the second half alone as Fineman kept the ball from reaching the Titans' mesh on multiple occasions.

During the match with the Pioneers, who produced a slight 10-9 edge in shots, Fineman made two saves en route to earning the win. He now sits third in the CCIW in goals against average (.880) over five games.

Fineman and the Titans are back on the field Wednesday, Oct. 27 to face Millikin University in Decatur, Ill. The game is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m.

2021 CCIW Men's Soccer Student-Athletes of the Week
Offense
Mickey Reilly - Carthage (10/26/21)
Zack Kokes - Illinois Wesleyan (10/19/21)
Mickey Reilly - Carthage (10/12/21)
Peder Olsen - North Park (10/5/21)
Joey Sopikiotis - Wheaton (9/28/21)
Peder Olsen - North Park (9/21/21)
Aidan Westerberg - North Central (9/14/21)
Silas Galvao - Wheaton (9/7/21)

Defense
Ethan Fineman - Illinois Wesleyan (10/26/21)
Angel Barriga - North Park (10/19/21)
Noah Reed - Elmhurst (10/12/21)
Sid Marquardt - North Central (10/5/21)
Johnny Kraemer - North Central (9/28/21)
Alfred Sward - North Park (9/21/21)
Noah Reed - Elmhurst (9/14/21)
AJ Moyes - Wheaton (9/7/21)

Print Friendly Version