Offensive Player of the Week 
Francesco DiPonzio, Rutgers 
Sr. – MF – Oakland, N.J. – Indiana Hills

• Score the lone goal in Rutgers’ 1-0 upset win over No. 2 Indiana
• 73rd minute marker secured Rutgers’ second victory over a top three opponent this season and the highest-ranked win under head coach Jim McElderry
• Claims first Offensive Player of the Week honor 
• Last Rutgers Offensive Player of the Week: Joschi Schelb (Sept. 2, 2025) 

Defensive Player of the Week  
Ellis Jones, Wisconsin
Sr. – D – Wednesbury, England – Oklahoma Christian

• Scored the game-winning goal in the Badgers’ 1-0 win over No. 10 UCLA
• Captained the Wisconsin backline for all 90 minutes, surrendering just one open play goal
• Earns his first Defensive Player of the Week accolade 
• Last Wisconsin Defensive Player of the Week: Ryan Quintos (Oct. 29, 2024)

Goalkeeper of the Week 
Rafael Ponce de Leon, Rutgers
Grad. – Pennington, N.J. – Pennington School

• Recorded one save, as Rutgers earned a 1-0 win over No. 2 Indiana
• Made a close-range stop in the 32nd minute to keep the match scoreless and eventually record the teams fourth shoutout of the season and his second clean sheet this year
• Nabs his second career Goalkeeper of the Week award and first of the season 
• Last Rutgers Goalkeeper of the Week: Ciaran Dalton (Sept. 16, 2025)

Freshman of the Week 
Josue Pfrommer, Northwestern
D – Joliet, Ill. – EdOptions Online Academy

• Helped the Wildcats earn a 1-1 draw against Penn State, despite playing a man down for nearly 80 minutes
• Saw 90 minutes of action in a scoreless draw against No. 10 UCLA, the first time the Bruins have been held scoreless all season
• Earns his first Freshman of the Week award
• Last Northwestern Freshman of the Week: Aaron O’Reilly (Nov. 4, 2025)

2026 Big Ten Men’s Soccer Players of the Week

August 25
O: Oliver Moller-Jensen, IND
D: Martin Wurschmidt, OSU
G: Alen Bean, MICH
F: Said El Eyssami, MD

September 1
O: Grayson Elmquist, MICH
D: Nick McHenry, IND
G: Laurin Mack, MD
F: Rodrigo Neri, MD

September 8
O: Albi Ndrenika, MD
D: Elijah Bishop, OSU
G: Judewellin Michel, WIS
F: Rodrigo Neri, MB

September 15 
O: Zach Ramsey, WASH
D: Fritz Volmar, NU
G: Dominic Pereira, NU

September 22
O: William Pierce, RU
D: Braxton Montgomery, RU
G: Michal Mroz, IND
F: Said El Eyssami, MD

September 29
O: Zach Ramsey, WASH
D: Bryant Mayer, NU
G: Stockton Short, WASH
F: Dominic Dono, MSU

October 6
O: Martin Wurschmidt, OSU
D: Tre Wright, UCLA
G: Michal Mroz, IND
F: Shaun Brun, WASH

October 13
O: Oliver Moller-Jensen, IND
D: Egor Akulov, WASH
G: Judewellin Michel, WIS
F: Christopher Salazer, WIS

October 20
P: Francesco DiPonzio, RU
D: Ellis Jones, WIS
G: Rafael Ponce de Leon, RU
F: Josue Pfrommer, NU