PORTLAND, Ore. – Helping the Montana State University Billings men's soccer team extend its winning streak to four games with a goal and an assist last week, freshman center back Realf Zhivanaj has been selected as the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Player of the Week announced the conference office Monday.
 
Zhivanaj provided an assist in MSUB's 3-2 victory over Northwest Nazarene University, before scoring his second goal of the year on Saturday in a 3-1 win over Concordia University. The freshman also played all 180 minutes at center back, helping anchor the defensive unit to the victories.
 
"After joining the team late, Realf very quickly established himself as one of our defensive pillars," commented MSUB head coach Alex Balog. "He is calm and composed on the ball, which is exactly what we needed after a rocky start. For a defender to get on the stat sheet as many times as he has done already is nothing short of impressive. I am glad the GNAC has recognized one of the emerging defensive talents in our conference."
 
Scoring his second header goal of the year against Concordia on Saturday, Zhivanaj pushed forward on a free kick and headed home an insurance goal in a 3-1 victory. In MSUB's first win of the week against Northwest Nazarene, Zhivanaj had his first career assist on a goal by Eli Williams. The score was crucial in shifting momentum, as it helped MSUB regain a 2-1 lead just one minute after giving up the equalizer early on in the second half.


 
In addition to contributing on the offensive end, Zhivanaj was a key factor on MSUB's back line, helping limit the opposition in the defensive third.
 
Zhivanaj has played every minute in the five starts he has made this season, a stretch during which the Yellowjackets are 4-1.
 
This is the fourth MSUB men's soccer player to earn GNAC Player of the Week, and it is the second straight week a Yellowjacket has been honored. Guillaume Kremer was also nominated this week, after winning Offensive Player of the Week seven days ago. Senior goalkeeper Tom Lohmann took home Defensive Player of the Week last week, and freshman goalkeeper Javier Hernandez won the award earlier this season.
 
The Yellowjackets (4-4, 2-0 GNAC) finish a four-game home stand against Seattle Pacific University and Saint Martin's University at Yellowjacket Field. Kickoff against the Falcons is set for 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, and the game against the Saints is at 3 p.m. on Saturday. Live video and live statistics will be available for both matches online through MSUB's Stretch Internet portal here.