BIDDEFORD, MAINE – Suffolk men's soccer keeper Xander Balog picked up Commonwealth Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Week following his performance in the regular-season finale at Salve Regina Tuesday, Oct. 25.
Balog turned aside 14 shots in Newport, Rhode Island, last week to help Suffolk secure a 1-1 draw versus the Seahawks. The stalemate pushed the Rams to the fourth seed in the 2022 CCC Men's Soccer Tournament. The 14-save performance are not only a career high for the sophomore, but mark the most stops by a Suffolk keeper since Kyle Van Cleef picked up 14 in a 50- setback against Saint Joseph's (Maine), Sept. 30, 2017.
The recognition is Balog's third honor from the CCC this season and third such defensive player of the week nod from the league in his collegiate career. The Tallahassee, Florida product is the only Ram to receive the award in the CCC era of men's soccer. Overall this season, Suffolk owns four weekly awards from the conference. Balog is responsible for 75 percent, while Matthew Belluardo holds the remaining accolade with CCC Rookie of the Week Sept. 26.
Balog and the Rams are still in the hunt for the 2022 CCC crown as fourth-seed Suffolk used a 5-4 penalty kick shootout to advance to the semifinals over fifth-seed Salve Regina. The blue-and-gold are set to face No. 22 Endicott Wednesday, Nov. 2. Kick-off at the tournament's top seed is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Hempstead Stadium.