SPARTANBURG, S.C. – UNCG’s Mani Austmann and Myson Darden have been named the Southern Conference men’s soccer offensive and defensive players of the week, respectively, for all competition from March 2-8.
 
Sophomore forward Austmann earned player of the week honors after scoring the game-winning goal Thursday against Longwood to help the Spartans to their fourth straight victory, with their 4-1 record good for their best start since 2004. He drove a shot toward the net in the 59^th minute, placing UNCG ahead of the Lancers in the team’s 2-1 win. Austmann is one of only two players in the conference to register two game-winning goals this season.
 
Darden, the league’s defensive player of the week, played a crucial role on the Spartans’ defense by keeping the Lancers scoreless until the 86^th minute. The defender from Raleigh, North Carolina, has started in all five games this season with three shots recorded. 
 
UNCG (4-1-0) travels to Mercer on Saturday, March 13, to open conference action at 2 p.m. with hopes to keep its four-game win streak alive. All seven SoCon teams are set to open conference play within the next week. 
 
Other offensive nominees: Ares Marlonsson (Belmont).
 
Other defensive nominees: Emil Laresen (Wofford). 

 
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
March 2   Shaun-Chris Joash, So., F, Furman
March 9   Mani Austmann, So., F, UNCG


Defense
Feb. 16    JR DeRose, R-Sr., GK, Mercer
Feb. 23    Brant Zulauf, R-Fr., GK, Mercer
March 2   Cameron Petty, So., GK, Belmont
March 9   Myson Darden, So., D, UNCG