Offensive Player & Rookie of the Week
Igancio Manzanares, Iona
Freshman, Cordoba, Argentina, Colegio Del Carmen
 
Ignacio Manzanares had a spectacular debut for the Iona University men’s soccer team in its season-opening 4-1 victory over Monmouth on Friday. The Cordoba, Argentina, native recorded a brace in his Maroon & Gold debut. Manzanares tallied his first goal and the eventual game-winner in the 32nd minute before sealing the victory with his second goal in the 78th minute. His two goals are tied for the conference lead following the opening week of the 2026 season.
 
Defensive Player of the Week
Marius Helias, Rider
Graduate Student, Saint Florentin, France
 
Helias logged a shutout in the Bronc's 1-0 win against JMU on Thursday night, sealing the team's first win against a G5/P4 school since 2017. Helias logged four saves off of 14 shots faced by the Dukes to maintain the clean sheet. Helias' save in the dying second of the first half to preserve the shutout cam in at No. 2 on the SEPC SportsCenter Top 10 on 8/21/26. 
 
The 2026 Metro Men's Soccer Championship is a six-team, single-elimination tournament scheduled for November 7–14. Each match will be hosted by the higher seed, with teams reseeded following each round of the championship. The tournament begins with the first round on Saturday, November 7, followed by the semifinals on Wednesday November 11. The championship concludes with the title match on Saturday, November 14. For more information regarding the 2026 Metro Men’s Soccer Championship, please visit here.