Lopes adds national honor to MSC award

Kansas City, Mo. --- In addition to winning the Mid-South Conference Men's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week honor, University of Rio Grande mid-fielderEderson Lopes was announced as the NAIA Men's Soccer National Offensive Player of the Week, in the final installment, the NAIA announced Tuesday. The award is based upon action from Nov. 2-8.

Lopes was selected out of a pool of conference/independent/unaffiliated player of the week winners among 23 conference/independent/unaffiliated groupings.

This is the second time this season a player from Rio Grande has won both the conference and national award in the same week, the other being freshman forward Richard Isberner.

Lopes scored, a school-record, six goals and assisted on another to earn Mid-South Conference Offensive Player of the Week. The Sao Paulo, Brazil, junior midfielder helped the RedStorm advance to the Mid-South Conference Tournament semifinals with a 13-0 win over St. Catharine College.

"It's good that Eddie got recognized, he's obviously has had his ups and downs this season, just because he missed 2 ½ weeks resting an injury," Rio Grande head coach Scott Morrissey said. "Statistically speaking he would be a lot further along had he played in some of the matches that he didn't participate in."

"It was nice for him to get recognition," Morrissey added. "It's funny, if Richard (Isberner) was healthy and not sick last week, Richard would have been up front and Eddie would've been back in the mid-field, but anyway, it's good that Eddie got that recognition. He's a top-class player and I'm happy for him."

Morrissey mentioned that Lopes would be among his among his top scorers had it not been for injury.  "If he hadn't missed that time he would be up there with Scott (Bibby) and Richard in number of goals scored, no question about it," Morrissey said. "He's a tremendous player and as I said I'm really happy for him."