SOMERSET, N.J. (Nov. 2, 2011) – Heading into the final weekend of the men's soccer regular season, senior Darius Motazed (North Vancouver, Canada/Sentinel Secondary) and freshman Pablo Medina (Monterrey, Mexico/IMG Academies) picked up a pair of weekly Northeast Conference awards.

Motazed became the first goalkeeper to earn a weekly honor this season after being named adidas/NEC Co-Player of the Week. Motazed continued his stellar senior season by posting his seventh and eighth shutouts of the season over the weekend, in a tie with Mount St. Mary's and a win over then 25^th-ranked Monmouth. With his eighth shutout, Motazed ties a school record for single season shutouts.

Additionally, these two shutouts give Motazed five consecutive shutouts and brings his goals against average down to 0.58 and his save percentage to .875, both of which are tops in the NEC. Motazed made eight stops in two games, three against the Mount and five versus Monmouth, that helped preserved Saint Francis' chance of an NEC postseason berth. Late in the second half against the Hawks, Motazed made a crucial diving save with just over two minutes remaining in the game to secure the win for the Red Flash.

“I am very pleased that Darius has been recognized as the Co-Player of the Week after his standout performances this weekend,” head coach Michael Casper said. “Getting two shutouts this weekend was huge for our team and Darius had a lot to do with that. He has a presence on the field that instills confidence in the rest of the team and couple that with outstanding athletic ability and we are fortunate to have a standout goalkeeper.”

Sharing this week's Player of the Week honors is Reece Wilson of Central Connecticut State who scored two goals and an assist over two games. Wilson had a helping hand in both of CCSU's goals that lifted them past FDU 2-1 in overtime.

Medina earned his second adidas/NEC Rookie of the Week honor of the season by scoring his team-leading fourth goal of the season in a big way Sunday afternoon. Medina took a cross pass in front of the net from junior Wayne Tiller (Magnolia, Del./Caesar Rodney) and chipped the ball past the Monmouth goalkeeper right at the goal line to notch the game winning goal for Saint Francis over Monmouth. The game winning strike is his second game winner of the season and gives him 12 points to rank him eighth in the NEC and second among freshman.

“Pablo has been solid for us all season and it is a great honor for him to receive his second Rookie of the Week award this year,” Casper said. “He scored a big goal for us against Monmouth and brings with him a very technical and creative style that our team needs.”  

Saint Francis returns to the field this Sunday Nov. 6 at 4 p.m. for its regular season finale against in-state and conference rival Robert Morris.