MANSFIELD, Mass. – Graduate student Liam Evans (Rock Hill, N.Y.) of the Southern New Hampshire University men's soccer team was chosen as the NE10 Defensive Player of the Week on Monday, while sophomore Martin Zapata (Pamplona, Spain) was selected as the Rookie of the Week, both for the period ending Nov. 10.

Evans, who captures the award for a league-best fifth time this season, played a key role in a defensive effort that saw SNHU limit Saint Anselm College to just seven shots in a 1-1 tie in Wednesday's regular-season finale.

Zapata scored the lone goal in the match for the Penmen, breaking the ice in the 67th minute to stake them to a 1-0 lead.

The team is now 12-2-1 and finished 7-0-1 in the NE10 to claim the regular-season title and the top seed for the NE10 Championship. They have allowed just 14 goals and have outshot opponents, 258-154. The Penmen sit second in the league in goals allowed, goals-against average (0.88) and shutouts (8). Evans has started all 16 matches on the back line.

Zapata, who has started 14 of 15 matches, leads the team in points (22) and assists (8), while placing third in goals (7). He is tied for the league lead in points, outright leads in assists and is tied for fifth in goals.

Evans, Zapata and the top-seeded Penmen are back in action Wednesday (Nov. 13) at 7 p.m. when they play host to fourth-seeded Adelphi University in an NE10 Championship semifinal at Ouellette Stadium.

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