Cruz, Cikauskas Earn Midwest Conference Honors

by Nathan Baliva

MONMOUTH, Ill. (09/09/2024) — Two Monmouth College student-athletes were honored by the Midwest Conference as Performers of the Week on Monday.

The Monmouth College football team picked up a Midwest Conference honor as junior defensive end Anthony Cikauskas (Oswego, Illinois) was named Defensive Performer of the Week.

Cikauskas, the 2023 MWC Defensive Line MVP and an All-American, racked up nine tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss against No. 4 Wartburg on Saturday night. He collected five solo tackles on the day and added a QB hurry to his 3.5 tackles for loss.

The Scots (0-1) open MWC play on Saturday with a 1 p.m. kickoff at the University of Chicago. The next home game is against Lawrence at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21.

Cruz Picks up Soccer Honor

For the second week in a row the Monmouth College women's soccer team earned a Midwest Conference Performer of the Week award.

Freshman Nylea Cruz (Silvis, Illinois) had a big week for the Scots with a goal and an assist in the 4-1 win over Rockford on Saturday. She scored her first collegiate goal for a 2-0 lead and later assisted on the goal that put Monmouth up 4-0.

Cruz is the second Monmouth player to win a MWC award this season after goalkeeper Anna Caster (Greenfield, Indiana), won the Defensive Performer of the Week honor last week.

The Scots host Eureka at 5 p.m. Tuesday before traveling to Coe on Saturday.