Koka, Barosen Sweep Weekly Valley Awards
10/18/2022 | Men’s Soccer
ST. LOUIS – The Missouri State men’s soccer team swept the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week selections with Jon Koka being named Player of the Week and Adrian Barosen earning Defensive Player of the Week, the league announced today.
Both are first-time honorees of the conference’s weekly accolades which were earned for their efforts in the Bears’ 3-1 come-from-behind win over UIC on Saturday, Oct. 15.
Barosen earns the honor after sparking MSU’s comeback against the Flames. Four minutes into coming onto the pitch, the junior defender took a shot from way outside the box, stunning the UIC keeper and landing the ball into the bottom right-hand corner of the net to tie the match, 1-1.
Koka was another difference maker for MSU over the weekend, also coming off the bench to net the game-winning goal in the 70th minute. Off an assist from Jack Denton, the junior forward netted a shot past the Flames’ keeper to give the team the 2-1 advantage late in the match. The score was the junior’s second goal of the season.
The duo’s goals boosted the Bears to their fourth conference victory of the season to keep the team undefeated in the Valley and atop the standings.
MSU will travel to Belmont over the weekend to face off against the Bruins for the second time this season after defeating them 2-0 at home. The second contest between the teams will take place on Sunday, Oct. 23, at 2 p.m.
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