CLEVELAND – Nick Markanich (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bradley-Bourbonnais) of the Northern Illinois University men's soccer team has been named Co-Mid-American Conference Player of the Week, the league office announced on Monday (Sept. 13). Markanich scored three goals to help the Huskies to a pair of wins over Eastern Illinois (Sept. 7) and 18th-ranked Marquette (Sept. 10).
 
To open the week against the Panthers, the senior forward scored in the 11th minute, with what proved to be the game-winning goal, and tallied again in the 36th as the NIU topped Eastern Illinois, 5-1. Three days later against the nationally ranked Golden Eagles, the Bourbonnais, Ill. native opened the scoring after just four minutes, giving the Huskies an early lead with his second consecutive game-winning goal as the Huskies blitzed Marquette, 3-0.
 
The win over Marquette was NIU's third consecutive victory over a ranked opponent, dating back to last season.
 
With his five goals this season, Markanich is tied for second in the nation in goals. In his four-year NIU career, Markanich currently has 28 goals, including eight game-winners, and 61 total points, which ranks eighth all-time in NIU history.
 
Markanich and the Huskies return to action on Tuesday night, Sept. 14, when they travel to Milwaukee to meet the Panthers in the annual matchup for the Lewang Cup. Kickoff in Milwaukee is scheduled for 7 p.m.