Blakely & Mollenthiel Selected as Landmark Conference Men's Soccer Athletes of the Week
TOWSON, Md. --- Moravian College junior forward Ethan Blakely and senior defender Akinori Mollenthiel have been selected as the Landmark Conference Men’s Soccer Offensive and Defensive Athletes of the Week for their performances last week.
TOWSON, Md. --- Moravian College junior forward Ethan Blakely and senior defender Akinori Mollenthiel have been selected as the Landmark Conference Men's Soccer Offensive and Defensive Athletes of the Week for their performances last week.
The duo helped the Greyhounds post a 2-1 come-from-behind win over Drew University Saturday in the squad's only match of the week as the Blue and Grey scored twice in a 38-second span during the 89th minute to earn the victory. Blakely set up both goals, the first at 88:14, when he chipped a ball in from the center of the field that found the head of freshman midfielder Dave Steinbach and ended up in the right side of the net to even the score. Just 38 seconds later, Blakely took a free kick from the far side out near the top of the 18-yard box after a foul and found Mollenthiel coming in from the left with a sliding kick that beat the Ranger's goal on the left side for the winning tally.
The goal for Mollenthiel was his second of the season and third of his career, and it also gave him two career game-winning goals. In the final minute after scoring the game-winner, Mollenthiel was back in his defensive spot and helped defend the final attempt by the Rangers in the waning seconds to seal the victory.
"Congratulations to Ethan and Aki for being named Offensive and Defensive Athletes of the Week, and thanks to the Landmark Conference for recognizing them," commented Head Coach Bob Wilkinson. "Ethan had both assists in our come from behind win against Drew. He had gotten banged up early in the second half and had to come out but returned to set up both goals. Aki played well all game and led our back line against a very strong Drew attack. He then got the game winner in the final two minutes on a great volley off of Ethan's cross. I'm so happy for both guys."
Moravian is slated to return to the pitch on Wednesday, October 23 in a Landmark Conference match at Elizabethtown College beginning at 7:00 p.m.
