SPARTANBURG, S.C. – VMI forward Kyle Grant and goalkeeper Dylan Holbach have been named the Southern Conference men’s soccer offensive and defensive players of the week, respectively, for all competition Sept. 19-25. 

Grant scored the game-winning goal with less than four minutes left in the match on Tuesday in the Keydets’ 1-0 win over Radford. The freshman from Montego Bay, Jamaica, leads VMI offensively with one goal and one assist on the season. The Keydets win marked the program’s first Division I win since 2014. 

Holbach got his first career start on Tuesday and played all 90 minutes in goal for the Keydets. The Chesapeake, Virginia, native started the season as a team manager and was pressed into action due to injuries of the team’s other goalkeepers. The sophomore faced 18 shots, making eight saves and allowing zero goals to secure VMI’s first Division I shutout in nine years. 


VMI (2-6-0) travels to Mary Baldwin on Tuesday before opening league play on Saturday at Mercer. 
 

Also nominated for offensive player of the week: Christian Kraus (Furman), Barzee Blama (Mercer) 
 

Also nominated for defensive player of the week: Josh Hosie (Furman), Trevor McMullen (Mercer), Cameron Victor (Wofford) 
 

2023 SoCon Men’s Soccer Offensive Players of the Week 

Aug. 29 Barzee Blama, Fr., MF, Mercer 

Sept. 5 Nikolai Rojel, So., F, Wofford 

Sept. 12 Dylan Lane, R-Sr., MF, Furman 

Sept. 19 Barzee Blama, Fr., MF, Mercer 

Sept. 26 Kyle Grant, Fr., F, VMI 
 

2023 SoCon Men’s Soccer Defensive Players of the Week 

Aug. 29 Nico Kross, Fr., D, ETSU 

Sept. 5 Trevor McMullen, Sr., GK, Mercer 

Sept. 12 Aaron Salinas, Fr., GK, Furman 

Sept. 19 Chris McKenna, Gr., D, ETSU 

Sept. 26 Dylan Holbach, So., GK, VMI