SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Belmont’s AJ Chastonay and Mercer’s Brant Zulauf have been named the Southern Conference men’s soccer offensive and defensive players of the week, respectively, for all competition from Feb. 16-22.
 
Freshman Chastonay earned player of the week honors for his first collegiate game after scoring a pair of goals in Belmont’s 3-0 season opener on the road against Bellarmine. The Louisville, Kentucky, native score his first goal in the 56^th minute, less than one minute after he was subbed into the game, and placed the Bruins on the board. He scored his second goal in the 80^th minute to put Belmont up 2-0. Chastonay leads the conference with four points per game (four) and is tied for first in the NCAA Division I national rankings for goals per game (two). 
 
Belmont hosts Central Arkansas at home on Thursday, Feb. 25, at 6:30 p.m. for the Bruins’ home opener.
 
Mercer goalkeeper Zulauf earned his second career start in the Bears’ lone game of the week at Jacksonville. The redshirt freshman played in all 90 minutes with three saves, leading to the Bears’ 1-0 shutout. The game marks Zulauf’s first career shutout and win. His seven saves on the season are the third-best in the conference. 
 
The Bears travel to Birmingham, Alabama, on Feb. 28 for their last nonconference matchup against UAB at 6 p.m., before opening conference play on March 13 against UNCG. 
 
Other offensive nominees: Jake Raine (Furman), Dylan Gaither (Mercer), Fernando Garcia (UNCG) and Nathan Lam (VMI).
 
Other defensive nominees: Cameron Petty (Belmont), Ben Hale (Furman) and Broaden Schull (VMI).

 
2021 Southern Conference Men’s Soccer Players of the Week
 
Offense
Feb. 16    Dawson Gideon, Jr., F, Mercer
Feb. 23    AJ Chastonay, Fr., MF, Belmont


Defense
Feb. 16    JR DeRose, R-Sr., GK, Mercer
Feb. 23    Brant Zulauf, R-Fr., GK, Mercer