SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Following a pair of victories last week, including a 2-1 conference win over 16^th-ranked UNCG on Saturday, Belmont’s AJ Chastonay and Case Cox have been named the Southern Conference men’s soccer offensive and defensive players of the week, respectively, for all competition Oct. 12-18.
 
Chastonay netted both of the Bruins’ game-winners last week, coming up with goals past the 80^th minute in Belmont’s 2-1 wins over Evansville and No. 16 UNCG. In their nonconference victory over the Purple Aces on Tuesday, Chastonay found himself in perfect position for a header into the left side of the net, giving the Bruins a 2-1 advantage in the 86^th minute. Chastonay’s right foot proved to be the difference in the Bruins’ SoCon matchup with the Spartans, as the sophomore midfielder connected with Case Cox’s go-ahead pass to administer a right-footed strike that pulled Belmont past UNCG in the 81^st minute. The Louisville, Kentucky, native has recorded six goals this season and has collected a total of 12 points.
 
Cox executed two massive plays to help the Bruins clinch their pair of wins last week, scoring one goal in Belmont’s match against Evansville on Tuesday before adding an assist in the Bruins’ match against the Spartans on Saturday. In their contest against the Purple Aces, Cox scored with his left foot in the 42^nd minute to give Belmont a 1-0 lead, marking the sophomore defender’s second career goal as a Bruin. In Belmont’s victory over UNCG, Cox assisted on the game-winning goal in the 81^st minute, sweeping the ball to Chastonay for the goal that handed the Bruins the conference win.
 
Belmont (3-4-3, 0-1-2 SoCon) returns to competition on Saturday, as the Bruins travel to Macon, Georgia, for a conference match against Mercer (5-6-1, 2-1-1 SoCon) at 1 p.m. before traveling to Charleston, Illinois, on Tuesday for a nonconference match against Eastern Illinois at 1 p.m.
 
Also nominated for offensive player of the week: Rayhan Carlson-Du Toit (ETSU), Jake Raine (Furman) and Ousman Jabang (Mercer).
 
Also nominated for defensive player of the week: Josh Perryman (ETSU) and Ben Roberts (Furman).
 
2021 SoCon Men’s Soccer Offensive Players of the Week
Aug. 31       Dylan Gaither, Sr., F, Mercer
Sept. 7        Niccolo Dagnoni, Sr., F, Belmont
Sept. 14      Liam O’Brien, Sr., F, Belmont
Sept. 21      Kadeem Agard, Fr., F, Mercer        
Sept. 28      Theo Collomb, So., F, UNCG
Oct. 5         Tarik Pannholzer, So., F/M, ETSU
Oct. 12       Tarik Pannholzer, So., F/M, ETSU
Oct. 19       AJ Chastonay, So., MF, Belmont
 
2021 SoCon Men’s Soccer Defensive Players of the Week
Aug. 31       Brant Zulauf, R-So., GK, Mercer
Sept. 7        Drew Romig, Sr., GK, Belmont
Sept. 14     Joshua Old, Jr., GK, Wofford
Sept. 21     Trevor McMullen, So., GK, Mercer
Sept. 28      Emmanuel Hagan, Fr., D, UNCG
Oct. 5         Marco Milanese, Sr., D, UNCG  
Oct. 12       Drew Romig, Sr., GK, Belmont
Oct. 19       Case Cox, So., D, Belmont