A pair of Colgate men’s soccer players have garnered Patriot League weekly awards after leading the Raiders to wins against Loyola Marymount and UMass over the weekend. Senior Ethan Kutler took home Offensive Player of the Week laurels, while classmate Zach Tamen grabbed Defensive Player of the Week nods.
Kutler, the preseason Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year, scored both game-winning goals in Colgate’s two wins on opening weekend. The Lansing, N.Y. native converted a penalty kick in the 33rd minute against LMU to lead the Raiders to a 1-0 victory against the West Coast Conference foe. Kutler followed that performance by breaking a scoreless draw in the 64th minute versus UMass to jumpstart Colgate to a 2-0 victory against the Minutemen.
He is one of only four players in all of Division I to have recorded two game-winning goals during the opening weekend. The pair of goals put him fourth in program history in career points (65) and tied for sixth in career goals (25).
Tamen was the anchor of a Colgate defense that shutout both LMU and UMass. The Washington, D.C. native helped the defense limit their opponents to just four shots on goal in the two games combined. The Raiders have earned shut outs in five of their last six regular-season games dating back to last season.
Senior Colin O’Neill received honorable mention recognition for the league’s Midfielder of the Week award for his efforts in helping Colgate to its 2-0-0 start.
The Raiders are receiving votes in Top Drawer Soccer’s weekly national rankings, sitting just three spots out of the Top 25.
Kutler, Tamen and the Raiders return to action Thursday evening when Colgate travels to Syracuse for a big non-league matchup. The Orange made it to the College Cup a season ago and are currently ranked No. 4 in the country by Top Drawer Soccer. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.