Opening Week Honors
The Big South Conference unveiled its weekly player accolades for the 2026 men’s soccer season, spotlighting standout performances from across the league.
Longwood’s Shafei Youssef earned Offensive Player of the Week after a dramatic comeback victory over William & Mary, striking twice and delivering the decisive goal in the 52nd minute.
UNC Asheville’s Lennart Granzow was recognized as Defensive Player of the Week, his shutout against Northern Kentucky marking the Bulldogs’ first clean sheet since 2015 and sealing a 1‑0 win.
High Point’s freshman Nick Sarantakos claimed Freshman of the Week honors, contributing a goal and an assist in a 5‑2 triumph over LIU, with an insurance strike in the 74th minute that capped his debut.
Coach Alfred Baafi praised Youssef’s impact, noting the player’s ability to change the tempo, while goalkeeper Hugo Roman highlighted Granzow’s composure under pressure.
The conference also acknowledged emerging talents such as Shion Hayashi, Noah Behrmann, Euan Brindley, Bryce Paige and Teo Jelaca, whose early-season contributions signal a competitive landscape ahead of the schedule.
Looking Ahead
With the season’s first week setting a high bar, teams will look to build on these performances as they travel to venues ranging from Radford to Winthrop, and from Northern Kentucky to the historic William & Mary campus in Williamsburg.
The Big South’s headquarters in Charlottesville, Virginia, will continue to coordinate the conference’s growth, while fans across the United States anticipate more thrilling matchups.