There were plenty of worthy options for player of the week, but it was impossible to look further than Christian Shannon leading Western Michigan to victories over two nationally-ranked squads. The redshirt freshman center-back played the full 90 in both games and provided several clutch moments, whether it was a last-ditch recovery tackle against No. 17 New Hampshire or the game-winning header versus No. 14 Vermont.

Please send any future Team of the Week nominations to college@topdrawersoccer.com.

Player of the Week: Christian Shannon, Western Michigan

Men’s Team of the Week: August 19-26

GK: Jeremi Abonnel, Saint Louis - Abonnel and the Billikens put together one of the performances of the week, upsetting No. 7 Indiana at home as the senior goalkeeper made three saves, none more important than a late penalty kick to preserve the two-goal win.

D: Christian Shannon, Western Michigan - The Michigan native led a Broncos squad that defeated two ranked opponents while conceding once.

D: Josh Jones, Louisville - The towering Cardinal center-back dominated the opening matchup versus Jacksonville, capped off with a header in the 2-0 win.

D: Gerardo Castillo, VCU - The senior captain did it all in VCU’s away upset of No. 19 Wake Forest, playing the full 90 and delivering the 2-1 game-winner on a sweet long-range strike with seven minutes remaining.

M: Edrey Caceres, UCLA - Caceres played every minute to ensure the Bruins got results against two ranked opponents, first scoring two free kicks in a 2-0 defeat of No. 13 Loyola Marymount, then playing 90 in a 0-0 draw with No. 12 James Madison.

M: Ethan Ballek, South Carolina - Ballek is off to a quick start to the season with two goals and two assists earned in a 7-1 defeat of Winthrop and a 2-2 draw with North Florida.

M: Ask Ekeland, Boston College - The transfer signing delivered in game one, scoring two world-class strikes in a 2-2 draw with Iona.

M: Sam Bassett, Denver - Living up to his TDS Preseason All-American recognition, Bassett led the Pioneers on a successful road trip with class as he provided two assists in a 2-1 defeat of California, then played all but eight minutes in a 1-0 upset of No. 4 Stanford.

F: Sergio Ors Navarro, West Virginia - The Spanish attacker made easy work of Purdue Fort Wayne with a hattrick in the 4-2 victory.

F: Dean Boltz, Wisconsin - Recognized on the TDS Preseason Freshman Best XI, Boltz showed why in a sensational performance of a hat trick plus an assist to open the season against Marist, then adding another goal in an identical 4-0 defeat of Drexel.

F: Ulfur Bjornsson, Duke - Bjornsson continues to stake his claim as the best striker in college soccer with a goal and an assist to help Duke draw San Diego 2-2, followed by a flawless hat trick to single-handedly defeat UC San Diego 3-2.

Honorable Mentions: GK Colin Welsh (Western Michigan), D Chimere Omeze (Syracuse), D Jan Schroeder (Delaware), D Joseph Maher (Saint Louis), M Oliver Stavdal (Kentucky), M Samy Kolby (Virginia Tech), M Mitchell Dryden (Marquette), M Joschi Schelb (St. Francis (Pa.), F Albert Thorsen (Pittsburgh), F Enzo Dovlo (UNC Greensboro), F Timothy Ennin (Old Dominion)

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