Monday, October 24, 2005

Freshman defender Andrew Stewart (Buffalo Grove, Ill./Stevenson) has been named the Mid-Continent Conference Defensive Player of the Week, the league announced today.

Stewart shut down Western Illinois' Nowaf Jaman, the conference's leading goal scorer, in a 0-0 (2ot) tie Friday afternoon at Eastgate Field. Jaman fired only two shots as Stewart and the Crusader defense earned their fourth shutout in six matches. Stewart also anchored Valpo's defensive effort Sunday in a 5-2 road win over Cleveland State.

In conference play, where the Brown and Gold are battling for their first tournament berth since 2002, the Valpo defense has been stingy, recording a conference-best three shutouts through five matches.

Stewart has seen action in all fourteen matches this season, making 11 starts, most of any defender on the club. He becomes the second Valpo player to earn Mid-Con Defensive Player of the Week Honors, joining keeper Jeff Oleck (Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral) who won the award October 10.

The Brown and Gold (5-8-1, 2-2-1) close out their conference season with a critical match on the road against IUPUI Friday night at 7:00 p.m. That match can be heard live in its entirety at www.sportsjuice.com.