Van Sicklen Named National Player of the Week
October 11, 2004 | Men's Soccer
Senior tri-captain Nick Van Sicklen was named the National Player of the Week by College Soccer News, Monday. It is the first such honor for the Madison native and complements his Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honor, also announced Monday.
Van Sicklen scored five of Wisconsin's six goals and assisted the sixth in the week's two games. Sunday against No. 9 Penn State, Van Sicklen registered his first career hattrick and the game-winner for the upset. Prior to the match-up PSU had only allowed two goals in any one game.
Playing short-handed and with urgency to avoid overtime, Van Sicklen preserved the upset for the Badgers in a dramatic fashion with seconds to go, allowing no time for Penn State to retaliate.
Earlier in the week, against in-state rival UW-Milwaukee, Van Sicklen marked the both of the Badgers' goals led the team's shooting with five, four of which were on goal. Van Sicklen now leads the Badgers in goals (7) and points (18). As of Oct. 11's Big Ten stats, Van Sicklen ranks third in points and goals scored.
Van Sicklen and the Badgers hope to maintain the momentum from the week's two big wins when they travel to Indiana to take on the third-ranked team in the nation, Friday, Oct. 15. Game time is set for 7 p.m.
