WALESKA, Ga.— According to a release from the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) office Monday afternoon, two additional Montreat College student-athletes have secured the first weekly honor of their careers. After Alex Murphy was named AAC Men's Golfer of the Week earlier today, Ethan Grasso and Frankie Zavala have now been tabbed AAC Men's Soccer Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively. These mark the men's soccer program's first such nods of the season.
 
Grasso's offensive pressure and Zavala's goalkeeping prowess helped the Cavaliers notch their first win over Reinhardt University since Nov. 3, 2017. Hosting the Eagles last Saturday during Homecoming & Family Weekend, Grasso scored both early and late while Zavala made saves throughout to capture a 2-0 triumph.
 
A native of Charlotte, N.C., Grasso opened the scoring just 4:09 into the contest when he picked off an errant pass inside the opposition's penalty area. Later, with merely 6:21 remaining in the match, the junior dribbled through Reinhardt's defense and slotted a shot into the lower right corner of the net. Grasso's second and third goals of the season allowed the Cavs to grab their first league triumph of the campaign.
 
Of course, Montreat couldn't corral all three points without Zavala's effort between the sticks. The junior from La Union, El Salvador stopped all five RU shots on target, including several close-range attempts. Thanks to his five saves, the Cavaliers also recorded their first clean sheet of the year.
 
For the official AAC Men's Soccer Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week release, click here.
 
Grasso, Zavala and the men's soccer team are back at Pulliam Stadium on Wednesday for a 5 p.m. kickoff versus Columbia College.