Elliot Collier, Old Collegian and a freshman on the Loyola University Chicago men’s soccer team, has been named Offensive Player of the Week by the Missouri Valley Conference.
Collier is the second Rambler to receive the weekly honor from the Valley this season, joining teammate Ryan Howe.
Collier capped off a furious comeback for the maroon and gold on Tuesday night against UIC with the first game-winning goal of his young career. After Jacob Thoreson brought the Ramblers back on level terms, 2-2, with only 64 seconds remaining,
Collier saw a bouncing ball fall to his feet 30 yards away from goal with time ticking away. The freshman out of Hamilton, New Zealand, wasted no time in unleashing a blast the curled inside the far post to give Loyola a 3-2 victory over its city rival.
Collier also tied for the team-lead in shots in Loyola’s 1-1 double-overtime draw with Central Arkansas on Saturday, notching three attempts, as the Ramblers secured a berth in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament in November.
Collier has made an immediate impact for Loyola in his debut season in Rogers Park. He currently leads the team in goals scored (3) and shares the team lead in shots on goal (10) with senior Brian Bement. Collier has also developed into a fixture in the Rambler lineup, starting in 10 of the 12 games that he has appeared in.
