COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Following a pair of standout performances that helped No. 21 Colorado State University Pueblo men's soccer close nonconference play unbeaten, Nick Cenek and Esteban Gonzalez have been named Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Players of the Week.
Cenek was selected as the RMAC Offensive Player of the Week, while Gonzalez earned RMAC Goalkeeper of the Week honors.
The weekly honor is the second of Cenek's career, while Gonzalez collects the award for the fourth time in his career.
Cenek turned in a big week offensively for the ThunderWolves, scoring three goals across CSU Pueblo's two victories over Colorado Christian and Fort Lewis. The junior scored both goals in Thursday's 2-0 home victory over Colorado Christian before adding another goal in Sunday's 3-1 road win at Fort Lewis.
Against CCU, Cenek broke a scoreless tie in the 64th minute before striking again less than three minutes later to give the Pack a 2-0 advantage. His opening goal stood as the game-winner.
Cenek continued his scoring run Sunday in Durango. With the match tied 1-1 early in the second half, he converted a penalty kick in the 55th minute to put CSU Pueblo back in front. The goal again proved to be the game-winner as the ThunderWolves went on to earn a 3-1 victory.
For the week, Cenek totaled three goals, six points and two-game-winning goals as the Pack improved to 6-0 on the season. He enters RMAC play tied for the conference lead with five goals and 11 points.
Gonzalez was equally impressive at the other end of the pitch, allowing just one goal over 180 minutes while recording nine saves, a shutout and two assists during the ThunderWolves' 2-0 week.
The senior goalkeeper made two saves in the shutout against Colorado Christian, helping the Pack limit the Cougars to five total shots and two attempts on goal. Gonzalez also contributed offensively, picking up the assist on Cenek's eventual game-winning goal in the 64th minute.
Gonzalez followed with a seven-save performance in Sunday's win at Fort Lewis as the Skyhawks generated 20 shots and put eight on frame. His biggest stop came in the 25th minute when he denied a Fort Lewis penalty kick to preserve CSU Pueblo's 1-0 advantage.
He added his second assist of the week in the 60th minute, sending a goal kick downfield that led directly to Juan Pablo Orozco Soto's goal and gave the Pack a 3-1 advantage.
Through six matches this season, Gonzalez leads the RMAC with a 0.33 goals-against average, .875 save percentage and four shutouts.
Behind Cenek and Gonzalez, CSU Pueblo completed its nonconference schedule with a perfect 6-0, outscoring its opponents 13-2.
The ThunderWolves now turn their attention to RMAC play and begin conference action Thursday, Sept. 24 at Westminster in Salt Lake City before traveling to Grand Junction for a Sunday matchup against Colorado Mesa.
