Rice Named MIAC Player Of The Week

MOORHEAD, Minn. (9/11/12)—Concordia senior Jared Rice was named the MIAC Men's Soccer Players of the Week it was announced on Tuesday. Rice hand in all four Cobber goals over the weekend and finished with six points for the week.

Concordia, who was predicted to finish last in the MIAC in the preseason coaches' poll, is now 3-2 on the year. 

The award marks the first time in his career that Rice has won a conference honor. He also becomes the first CC player to be named the MIAC Player of the Week since the 2010 season.

Rice scored both goals in the Cobbers' 4-2 loss against regionally-ranked St. Scholastica on Friday. The highlight of the game came when he tied the contest at 2-2 after dispossessing a Scholastica defender 40 yards out from goal and then dribbling past two defenders in order to hammer a shot past the goalie.

Rice sparked Concordia's win over Wartburg on Sunday. He started the passing combination that set up the first goal of the game and then sacrificed himself to get the ball to teammate Michael Forston on the second goal. Rice ran at top speed in order to get to a loose ball before the Knights' goalie was able to grab it. The subsequent massive collision sent both Rice, and the goalie, tumbling to the ground. Forston was then able to collect the loose ball and slide it into the open goal.

Rice now has seven points on the season which is second among all players in the MIAC. It is also just one point shy of his total in all of 2011. He is also tied for the league lead with three assists and tied for fourth in goals with two.      

Concordia opens conference play on Wednesday, Sept. 12  when they host Hamline at 2 p.m. The Cobbers will then finish off their five-game home stand when they square off against Gustavus on Saturday, Sept., 15 at 1 p.m.