Mika Habel Named Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Week

NEW ORLEANS – South Carolina men’s soccer player Mika Habel has been named the Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Week it was announced by the conference Tuesday (Sept. 15).

It’s the second career Player of the Week honor for Habel after earning the same honor last season.

The senior defender helped No. 6 Carolina to remain undefeated with a 2-0 week. His defense helped Carolina’s backline keep two clean sheets on the week and the first back-to-back shutouts in over a year. He was also responsible for two of Carolina’s three goals on the week. He played all 90 minutes in both matches.

In the win over then-No. 14 High Point on Sept. 7, he scored the rare Olimpico goal (a goal on a corner kick), for the team’s second goal of the night. His defense helped the Gamecocks limited the Panthers to only one shot on goal in the 2-0 win.

On Sept. 11 in the victory over UNCG, his corner kick resulted in an own goal, the lone goal of the match. The goal was the game-winner as Carolina defeated the Spartans 1-0. Habel and the backline held UNCG without a shot on goal in the first half.

Habel and the Gamecocks begin conference play Sept. 18 when they travel to Old Dominion for a 7 p.m. kickoff.