[Men's Soccer] Putz nabs national award

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The eighth installment of the 2011 NAIA National Men's Soccer Players of the Week have been announced, and Mount Mercy senior goalkeeper Josh Putz has been named the NAIA Defensive Player of the Week for Oct. 25.

Putz recorded 12 saves in 184 minutes in victories over Clarke and sixth-ranked Grand View. He stopped four shots in a 3-0 win over the Crusaders, then made eight saves to help the Mustangs hand the Vikings only their second loss of the season. The win over Grand View also gave Mount Mercy a share of the regular season conference title and the top seed in the Midwest Collegiate Conference Tournament.

The Mustangs, who defeated Culver-Stockton (Mo.), 3-1, on Monday, open the MCC quarterfinals against eighth-seeded Iowa Wesleyan on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. at Lower Kingston Field in Cedar Rapids.