The awards for No. 6 Indiana men’s soccer keep racking up, as Hoosiers were honored by the Big Ten in back-to-back weeks.
Junior defender Nick McHenry earned the Big Ten’s Defensive Player of the Week award, the conference announced Tuesday. The news comes one week after senior forward Oliver Moller-Jensen won National Player of the Week and Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week.
Playing right center-back, McHenry has anchored the Hoosiers’ defense, allowing no goals in open play thus far. With the help of senior defender Alex Barger and junior defenders Josh Maher and Nolan Kinsella, Indiana has only allowed two goals this season. Neither goal has come from open play.
The Hoosiers gave up an 83rd-minute goal in their season-opening match against the University of Notre Dame on Aug. 20, which fifth-year midfielder Vlad Walent converted from the penalty spot. Then, Indiana allowed a free-kick goal to University of Louisville sophomore forward Andrés Escudero Martín on Monday.
Outside of those two goals, Indiana’s backline has been sound to start the season. Junior goalkeeper Michal Mroz has only faced eight shots this season, helping the Hoosiers complete back-to-back clean sheets against the University of Evansville and Butler University.
McHenry was also awarded for his ability on the offensive end, as the 6-foot-3 right center-back found space inside Butler’s box off a corner kick. McHenry then slotted home Indiana’s only goal in a 1-0 defensive battle against the Bulldogs on Aug. 27, despite the Hoosiers attempting a season-high 33 shots.
“What a feeling, especially at home in front of the fans,” McHenry said postgame. “Really happy to get my first one. Yeah, I didn't expect it today. I mean, I never expect it as a center back.”
McHenry spent his first two collegiate seasons with Big Ten foe Ohio State, where he scored three goals in 15 matches last season. Even after 37 matches in the conference, McHenry received his first Defensive Player of the Week honor on Tuesday and was Indiana’s first winner since Maher last September.
After a road match against Louisville, Indiana returns to Bill Armstrong Stadium for the adidas/IU Credit Union Classic. The Hoosiers will play California Polytechnic State University and Denver University on Sept. 4 and Sept. 7, respectively.
Follow reporters Noah Boudouris (@noahboudouris and nboudour@iu.edu) and Sean McAvoy (@sean_mc07 and semcavoy@iu.edu) for updates throughout the Indiana men’s soccer season.
