CLEVELAND – Nick Markanich (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bradley-Bourbonnais) of the Northern Illinois University men's soccer team was named Mid-American Conference Player of the Week for the second consecutive week, the league office announced on Monday (Sept. 20). Markanich scored four goals last week in a pair of victories over Milwaukee and Western Illinois. 

In the first game of the week, NIU's annual Lewang Cup clash against Milwaukee (Sept. 14), Markanich scored NIU's second goal in the 71st minute of a 4-0 victory over the Panthers. The win helped the Huskies maintain possession of the traveling trophy that they have now held since 2018. 

Four days later against Western Illinois (Sept. 18), Markanich recorded a first half hat trick in a 6-0 win over the Leathernecks. The senior from Bourbonnais, Ill., scored in the 12th, 36th and 39th minutes to claim the first hat trick by a Huskie since Bernhard Hagevik scored three goals against Marshall on Oct. 25, 2002. 

With his four goals this past week, Markanich now has nine goals and 19 points this season, both of which lead the nation. He has scored in five consecutive matches, dating back to Sept. 4 against St. Thomas (Minn.), and has moved into seventh in program history with 69 career points (32 goals, five assists). 

On Tuesday, Sept. 21, Markanich and the Huskies take their 6-1 record to Bridgeview, Ill., to face Chicago State. Kickoff against the Cougars is scheduled for 2 p.m.