After helping the Canisius College men's soccer team put an
exclamation point on the best non-conference season in program history with a
perfect 2-0-0 weekend, junior midfielder Will
Hudson and senior goaltender Kareem Gray were honored by the MAAC on
Monday. Hudson earned the league's Offensive Player of the Week, while Gray
collected Defensive Player of the Week accolades.
The duo helped the Griffs wrap up their non-conference
season with victories over St. Bonaventure (1-0) and St. Francis (3-0).
Canisius finished its non-conference schedule with a 7-1-2 record - three more
non-league wins than any other season in school history since joining the MAAC
in 1989. In addition, the Griffs' seven wins are already the third-most in the
program's history.
Hudson contributed a point on all four of the Griffs' goals
during the week. The highlight for the junior midfielder was netting a hat
trick against St. Francis on Sunday, becoming the first Griff to score three
goals in a game since 1999. Hudson also registered an assist on the game's only
goal in a 1-0 victory against St. Bonaventure.
The London, England native owns career highs of nine points
and four goals this season. During his career, Hudson has appeared in 46
contests with 13 points, five goals and three assists.
Gray anchored the Canisius defense to a pair of shutouts
during the weekend, recording five saves in the wins against the Bonnies and
Red Flash. The senior netminder now has four clean sheets during the 2012
campaign, already matching the program's single-season record. Gray also ranks
first in the MAAC with his four shutouts.
During his career, Gray is tied for third in school history
with seven shutouts and ranks fourth with his 12 goaltender victories.
Both players earned the weekly honor for the first time in
their careers. Thanks to the team's best non-conference season, the Griffs also
moved up in the NSCAA North Atlantic Rankings to second, matching the program's
highest-ever placement from the Sept. 11 poll.
Canisius now turns its attention toward MAAC action, opening
conference play at home against Rider on Oct. 5.
