Chris Paton
Sophomore Chris Paton (Glasgow, Scotland/Uddingston Grammar School) of the NIU men’s soccer team was named Co-Mid-American Conference Men’s Soccer Player of the Week today by the league office.
Paton shares the weekly honor with Akron’s Saad Abdul-Salaam.
Paton recorded a goal and an assist this past weekend while helping the Huskies to a victory over nationally ranked UIC and a draw with Green Bay.
“It is well-deserved for Chris,” said NIU head coach Eric Luzzi. “He is a guy that is a constant threat for us in the attack and he has a knack in and around the box. He is a big part of our attack and what we do going forward. We scored three goals on the weekend, had a really good result and a decent result and he was a huge part of that, so I am happy for him.
On Friday (Sept. 12) against No. 23 UIC, Paton scored the lone goal of the contest in the 74th minute, finding the back of the net for his second goal of the season as the Huskies beat the Flames, 1-0. The win was the first for NIU over a nationally-ranked foe since defeating second-ranked SMU on Sept. 19, 2008.
Against Green Bay on Sunday (Sept. 14), Paton assisted on Bertrand Gaschot’s game-tying goal with 34 seconds left as the Huskies earned a 2-2 draw against the Phoenix. Paton currently leads the Huskies in scoring with six points (two goals, two assists), tied for sixth in the MAC. He has appeared in all six matches, making five starts.
The weekly honor is the first for Paton and the first for the Huskies since Isaac Kannah was named MAC Player of the Week on Oct. 28, 2013.
Paton and the Huskies conclude a three-game homestand this Saturday, Sept. 20, when they host Marquette. Game time against the Golden Eagles is scheduled for 7 p.m.
For more information on NIU men’s soccer and Huskie athletics, visit www.niuhuskies.com.
