Olivet College’s Russell named MIAA Offensive Player of the Week for men’s soccer

OLIVET, Mich. – Olivet College sophomore forward Esteban Russell (DeWitt) has been named the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Offensive Player of the Week honors for men's soccer.

Russell and the Comets split two league contests last week to help maintain their tie for first-place in the MIAA standings . In a 3-2 loss to Calvin College Oct. 10, he had an assist on Olivet's second goal. In a 5-2 win against Albion College Oct. 13, Russell scored the second goal and assisted on three others, including the game-winning goal. The three assists tied the single-game school record.

For the season, Russell leads the team in almost every offensive category, including points (28), goals (seven), assists (14), shots (83) and shots-on-goal (42). His 14 assists is already a single-season school record.

"Esteban has been playing well all year," said Olivet Head Men's Soccer Coach Chad Wiseman. "He is one of the most explosive players in the MIAA. Only in his second year at Olivet, Esteban has already started to rewrite the record books. He will have to elevate his game to another level as we come down to the final five league games.  I have no doubt that he will do just that."

The Comets start the week with a 13-1-1 overall record and will host third-place Hope College Wednesday afternoon at 4 p.m. and travel to play fourth-place Kalamazoo College Saturday at 2:30 p.m. With a tie or win in any of its remaining five games, Olivet will secure a spot in the 2012 MIAA Tournament.