MIAC Soccer Athletes-of-the-Week

http://miac-online.org/news/2011/10/4/MSOC_1004113050.aspx

MIAC Men's Soccer Athlete-of-the-Week

Tim Wills, Carleton
Portland, Ore. / Central Catholic

All at once, Carleton's Tim Wills (Portland, Ore./Central Catholic) helped his team strengthen its current quest for a MIAC championship, and he further cemented his legacy as one of the Knights' all-time men's soccer greats last week. Wills scored three goals in three games, helping Carleton go 2-0-1 and remain in second place in the conference standings, and in the process he became Carleton’s career leader in goals scored. For his performance and his career milestone, Wills has been named the MIAC Men's Soccer Athlete-of-the-Week.

Wills started his huge week by scoring the game-winning goal Wednesday in a 3-1 win over defending MIAC regular season champion Macalester with four shots and four shots on goal. Wills followed with five shots - two on goal - Saturday as the Knights played 12th-ranked Gustavus to a 0-0, double-overtime tie. Wills capped things off by scoring both the record-tying and record-breaking goals Sunday in Carleton's 6-1 win over Cornell. Wills now has 29 career goals, and is also the Knights' all-time leader in assists (29) and points (87). This season, Wills ranks first in the MIAC in shots (41) and shots per game (4.1) and is tied for seventh in points (10) and goals (four).

The Knights used their big week to improve to 5-3-2 overall, and they remain unbeaten and alone in second place in the MIAC with a 3-0-1 record. This week, Carleton opens its week by hosting Northwestern in a nonconference match Tuesday at 4 p.m. before heading into another crucial MIAC matchup. Saturday, the Knights travel to Minneapolis for a 7 p.m. showdown with first-place Augsburg under the lights.

MIAC Women's Soccer Athlete-of-the-Week 

Heather Beshears, Saint Benedict

Maple Grove, Minn. / Maple Grove

Saint Benedict senior forward Heather Beshears (Maple Grove, Minn.) scored two goals and added two assists as the Blazers went 2-0-1 last week. Her six-point week helped St. Ben’s move to 3-1-1 in conference play and jump into a three-way tie for second place. Beshears also had five shots on the week and all five were on goal. For her contributions to CSB's success, Beshears has been named the MIAC Women's Soccer Athlete-of-the-Week.

Beshears started her week by recording a goal and an assist in the Blazer’s 2-0 win over Augsburg on Wednesday. She also had a pair of shots on goal as CSB handed the Auggies their first conference loss of the season. On Saturday, Beshears helped the Blazers tie regionally-ranked St. Olaf 2-2. The double overtime tie was the first blemish of the year for the Oles in conference play. Beshears finished off her week by scoring her team-leading third goal of the year in the team’s dominating 5-0 win at Nebraska Wesleyan. Beshears had three shots in the game and all three shots were on frame.

Saint Benedict and Beshears will look to continue their winning ways when they play at St. Catherine on Saturday at 1 p.m. The following week, the Blazers will continue working their way through the MIAC as they hit the road twice for matches at Bethel (Oct. 11) and St. Thomas (Oct. 15).

Courtesy MIAC