SPARTANBURG, SC – Liberty forward Samson Kpardeh and UNC Greensboro defender Trym Linberg were named Southern Conference Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week for matches held from August 21-24.
Kpardeh (Worcester, MA / South High Community School) scored twice in Liberty’s cross-country trek to Southern California, finding the back of the net in the season opener to lift the Flames to a 2-1 win over San Diego State and scoring again in a loss to No. 1 San Diego.
Against the Aztecs, Kpardeh scored early in the second half to put his side up 1-0, with Hugo Kopke and Finn Van den Berg assisting on the goal. On Monday against the nationally ranked Toreros, Kpardeh took a pass from Javan Ochieng and dribbled 20 yards into the penalty box and connected on a shot into the bottom right for an early lead at the 40:21 mark. Kpardeh played the full 90 minutes in each of those contests.
Linberg (Bærums Verk, Norway / University School) helped No. 14 UNC Greensboro to a 1-0-1 week with a sterling defensive effort, anchoring a back line that allowed only one goal over two matches. In the season opener vs. VCU, Linberg also dished off a pair of assists to help the Spartans to a 4-1 win. On Monday, he led a defensive effort that held San Francisco scoreless in a 0-0 draw. His performance vs. VCU marked the first multi-assist effort of Linberg’s collegiate career.
Liberty (1-1) is in its first season as an associate member of the SoCon in men’s soccer and will play its home opener on August 28 vs. Florida Gulf Coast at 6:00 pm ET (ESPN+).
UNC Greensboro (1-0-1), no stranger to tough competition, hosts No. 23 West Virginia on August 28 at 7:00 pm inside UNCG Soccer Stadium (ESPN+)
Others Nominated Offense: Diego Hernandez (Furman), Filipe Matos (UNCG), Chris Nezianya (Mercer), Sam Dowdy (VMI), Bear Rice (Wofford).
Others Nominated Defense: Oscar Vallejo (Liberty), Henry Hampshaw (Mercer), Santiago Rocha (VMI), Scott Cheevers (Wofford).
2026 SoCon Men’s Soccer Offensive Players of the Week
Aug 25 – Samson Kpardeh, So., F, Liberty (Worcester, MA)
2026 SoCon Men’s Soccer Defensive Players of the Week
Aug. 25 – Trym Linberg, So., D, UNCG (Bærums Verk, Norway)