After helping the Valparaiso University men’s soccer team to an undefeated week, junior Rafael Mentzingen (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil / Bryan) has been named the Missouri Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Week.

Mentzingen scored the match-winning goal in both of Valpo’s victories, lifting the Crusaders to a 3-2 nonconference win at Northern Illinois on Tuesday evening before helping the team top Evansville 2-1 at Brown Field on Saturday night.

The Crusaders now stand at 6-5-1 overall and 3-2 in Valley play. This marks Mentzingen’s second MVC Offensive Player of the Week award in his first season at Valpo. He was also recognized by the conference on Sept. 6.

Mentzingen leads the team and ranks fifth in the conference with 10 points and owns five goals, which ranks first on the team and tied for fourth in The Valley.

After the two wins last week, Valpo is back in the NSCAA West Regional rankings, checking in at No. 8. The Crusaders will return to the pitch on Thursday at 4 p.m. CT for a nonconference showdown with Western Illinois in Macomb.