Monday, October 22, 2012

Sophomore Eric Nieto (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Louisville Collegiate [Ky.] H.S.) and fifth-year senior Kyle Zobeck (Coralville, Iowa/Iowa City West) were named the Horizon League Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week, respectively, on Monday after helping Valparaiso to a pair of victories last week.

Nieto scored his first goal of the season in the 13^th minute of Valpo’s mid-week win over Northern Illinois, a tally which ended up as the match-winner in the 2-1 Crusader victory.  Zobeck made seven saves in the win over the Huskies, including a pair of superlative efforts late in the second half to keep Valpo in the lead.

Then on Sunday, Nieto tallied a key insurance goal in the 86^th minute while the Crusaders were playing a man down as Valpo secured a 2-0 Horizon League win over Detroit.  Zobeck made two saves to earn the clean sheet against the Titans, his fourth shutout of the year.  The fifth-year senior has surrendered just two goals in five league games this season.

Nieto, Zobeck and the rest of the Crusaders return to action at Brown Field on Wednesday evening at 7:30 p.m. as Valpo hosts Wright State in league play.  The match can be seen live on the Horizon League Network.