MT. PLEASANT, Iowa - On the heels of the school's first berth to the NAIA Men's Soccer National Championships, Ashford University's Nick De Backer of Antwerp, Belgium, and Nick Roman of Belvidere, Ill., received Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week recognition by the Midwest Collegiate Conference.

De Backer, a sophomore midfielder, scored the game-winning goal in the MCC Tournament title game against Viterbo University in the second overtime. It was his second weekly conference honor this year (Sept. 14)

Also contributing to the weekly offensive honor for the Belgian native was a pair of assists to AU's other goals in a 3-2 win over the V-Hawks. For the year, he has eight goals and eight assists.

Roman earned MCC Defensive Player of the Week accolades for the fifth time this year while tending net.

The junior goalkeeper has been in net for 18 of Ashford's 19 wins in an undefeated season and collected a critical save in the league tournament title match against Viterbo.

The Saints will host No. 10 Benedictine College (Kan.) on Saturday in an opening-round matchup at a location and time still to be determined.

Men's Soccer MCC Weekly Awards
Damian Ryan - MCC Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 6)
Nick De Backer - MCC Offensive Player of the Week (Sept. 14)
Eddie Garza - MCC Offensive Player of the Week (Sept. 21)
Michael Handley - MCC Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 21)
Nick Roman - MCC Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 27)
Rafael Machado - MCC Offensive Player of the Week (Sept. 27)
Nick Roman - MCC Defensive Player of the Week (Oct. 12)
Eddie Garza - MCC Offensive Player of the Week (Oct. 19)
Nick Roman - MCC Defensive Player of the Week (Oct. 26)
Vedran Ilic - MCC Offensive Player of the Week (Nov. 2)
Nick Roman - MCC Defensive Player of the Week (Nov. 9)
Nick De Backer - MCC Offensive Player of the Week (Nov. 16)
Nick Roman - MCC Defensive Player of the Week (Nov. 16)