PORTLAND, Ore. – Playing lock-down defense all season long for the Montana State University Billings men's soccer team, senior captain Matt Brink was rewarded for his efforts last week by being named the Great Northwest Athletic Conference defensive Player of the Week announced by the conference office Monday.
 
"We are very proud of Matt for bringing home this award," said MSUB head coach Alex Balog. "Matt has worked very hard for this program for four years and for him to get this recognition is a great achievement."
 
Brink contributed to MSUB's 2-0 shutout victory over Saint Martin's last week, and helped the Yellowjackets hold No. 2 Seattle Pacific to just two shots on goal in a narrow 1-0 defeat on Saturday. Brink played the full 90 minutes in both matches.
 
Overall on the season, Brink has been a fixture defensively, starting 15 games and logging a team-high 1,413 minutes among field players.
 
"During both games last week, and throughout the season, he has made runs up and down the line and helped our defense go from 32 goals allowed to 25 in his senior year," Balog said. "It is a very well-deserved award for him and I hope he uses this as motivation for his last game on Saturday."
 
Earning honorable mention Player of the Week was Rhys Lambert, who scored the game-winning goal in the team's victory over Saint Martin's and has scored five goals this season.
 
"Rhys has been phenomenal for us all season long," Balog said. "As a newcomer, he's scored five goals and assisted on one from a midfield position. He has been an outstanding addition to our team in terms of performance but also in terms of personality."
 
MSUB plays its final game of the 2014 season on Saturday at 2 p.m. against Northwest Nazarene at Yellowjacket Field. Brink will be among the team's seniors who are honored before the game in a ceremony for MSUB's Senior Day.