Oct. 8, 2007

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Mid-American Conference has named Northern Illinois goalkeeper Brian Van Buren its Men's Soccer Player of The Week, the conference announced Monday.

Van Buren (Sycamore, Ill./Sycamore) recorded three saves in two shutout victories for the Huskies, the first and second shutouts of his career. To open the weekend, Northern Illinois defeated MAC opponent Western Michigan 4-0 in a game in which Van Buren faced four shots. Two days later, the senior keeper recorded three saves and assisted the game-winning goal in the Huskies' 1-0 victory over Western Illinois.

"Brian has trained hard his entire NIU career to be at his peak when called upon, and that hard work paid off last weekend," Huskie head coach Steve Simmons said.

Van Buren has now allowed only one goal in 270 minutes between the pipes.

The Huskies return to action Saturday at 6:30 p.m. (CST) to face No. 28 Akron in Akron, Ohio.