SPARTANBURG, S.C. – After clinching back-to-back shutout victories at home, the Belmont Bruins have swept the Southern Conference Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week awards for all competition from Aug. 31 to Sept. 6. Niccolo Dagnoni has been named Offensive Player of the Week, while Drew Romig earns the Defensive Player of the Week honor.
 
Dagnoni was a key contributor in Belmont’s victory over UNC Asheville on Tuesday, with the junior forward assisting on Belmont’s lone goal, as his go-ahead pass put Michael Saunders in position to find the back of the net for the 1-0 win over the Bulldogs. The helper was Dagnoni’s 16^th career assist, leaving the Milan, Italy, native tied for second place in program history with Paulo Boero (1992-95). Dagnoni also recorded his 42nd career point during the match, earning him the sixth-place position in Belmont’s all-time career points category. Four days later, Dagnoni registered another assist against Southern Illinois-Edwardsville when he drove a perfectly placed go-ahead pass from around midfield to sophomore forward Tallyn Bronson, who fed a cross to AJ Chastonay for Belmont’s lone goal, which allowed the Bruins to nab their second shutout of the week. The assist moved Dagnoni into sole possession of second place among Belmont's all-time assist leaders and into a tie with Jeremy Littlejohn (1995-98) for fifth place in program history in points.
 
Romig recorded two clean sheets for the Bruins in their matches against UNC Asheville and SIUE. He tallied only one save during the Bruins’ match against the Bulldogs, and four days later against the Cougars, he totaled four saves, including an impressive, acrobatic save in the 34^th minute. The Midlothian, Virginia, native, who earned the start in both of Belmont’s matches, finished the week with five total saves.
 
Belmont (2-2) hosts Georgia State on Friday, Sept. 10, then the Bruins travel to Nashville, Tennessee, for a match at Lipscomb on Tuesday, Sept. 14.
 
Also nominated for offensive player of the week: Tarik Pannholzer (ETSU), Jake Raine (Furman), Theo Collomb (UNCG), Kadeem Agard (Mercer).
 
Also nominated for defensive player of the week: Josh Hosie (Furman), Ousman Jabanag (Mercer).
 
2021 SoCon Men’s Soccer Offensive Players of the Week
Aug. 31       Dylan Gaither, Sr., F, Mercer
Sept. 7        Niccolo Dagnoni, Sr., F, 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