CCAC News
Posted by Dave Laketa - Tue, Oct. 16, 2012 - [ Men's Soccer ] - Viewed 522 times
Liam Barrett
Liam Barrett

CHICAGO --- The heck with hat tricks.  Illinois Institute of Technology's Liam Barrett (Felixstowe, England) did one better not once, but twice during the week ending Oct. 14.  The senior forward and 2010 Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year had a hand in on four goals in one game and tallied all four of his team's goals in another contest to earn CCAC Men's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week honors, it was announced on Tuesday.

Barrett was joined by Robert Morris University's Milco Risteski (Palatine, Ill.), who was recognized as the league's top defensive player for the third time this season.

Barrett, a senior forward, produced one goal and three assists in Illinois Tech's 8-1 victory over University of St. Francis on Tuesday before providing all the offense in the Scarlet Hawks' 4-3 overtime win versus Trinity Christian College on Saturday.  Included in the latter count was IIT's game-winning goal three minutes into the extra session against the Trolls.

Barrett's five-goal, three-assist week added to his league-leading numbers for the season where he ranks first in both total goals (15) and total points (36).  In the nation, he ranks eighth in points and tenth in goals.

Risteski, meanwhile, continued his stinginess registering his third and fourth shutouts of the season in victories over Trinity International University and Cardinal Stritch University this past week.  The senior goalkeeper stopped a pair of shots in Robert Morris' 2-0 win over Trinity International on Tuesday before posting three saves in a 1-0 victory opposite Cardinal Stritch on Saturday.  The latter contest marked Cardinal Stritch's first conference loss of the season.

Risteski's two blankings lowered his goals against average under one for the season to 0.96.

Robert Morris (10-2-1, 5-2) moved into sole possession of third place in the league with its two wins, one point behind co-leaders Saint Xavier University and Cardinal Stritch.  The Eagles are ranked 25th in the nation.

Illinois Tech's two victories put the Scarlet Hawks at 7-5-2 overall and 4-1-2 in the conference, one point behind Robert Morris in fourth place.