For the second time in 2017, Radford forward Kieran Roberts is the Big South Men’s Soccer Attacking Player of the Week after collecting his second career hat trick on Saturday, the league office announced Monday afternoon.
Roberts’ third career honor gives the Highlanders six honorees on the season, most among any Big South school.
The hat trick highlighted a 4-0 win over UNC Asheville in Radford’s Big South home opener, extending the Highlanders winning streak to four straight.
“Kieran was sharp around the box over the weekend,” said head coach Bryheem Hancock. “His strong efforts led to the hat trick and the win.”
Collecting his first hat trick in a 6-1 victory over Presbyterian on Sept. 27, 2014, Roberts opened the match in the seventh minute off a beautiful through ball off the boot of Fraser Colmer that found Evan Szklennik on the far side of the six-yard box. Szklennik hit a striding Roberts for the goal to near post.
Roberts’ second goal came in the 30th minute as Szklennik dribbled through traffic, finding Roberts on the left side of the six-yard box, firing a top spin shot to the top right corner. Capping off his career night in the 56th minute as his shot attempt to the far-left post deflected in off a UNC Asheville defender as a Szklennik through ball set up the goal.
The Bournemouth, England native has now scored in four straight matches, tallying six goals over the last three matches on 10 shots on frame. Entering the week with 11 goals, Roberts ranks tied for the nation’s lead with NJIT’s Mamadou Guirassy. Roberts also leads the nation with a 1.22 goals per game mark, registering three multi-goal matches on the season.
In addition, Roberts leads the country with 5.78 shots per game and ranks second with 3.00 shots on goal per contest. Tallying 22 points on the year, which ranks third nationally, Roberts’s 2.44 points per game is second best.
Roberts has scored 21 career goals, which ranks four goals behind Sivert Daehlie for 10th all-time.
Radford returns to action on Wednesday, traveling to Presbyterian for a 6 p.m., Big South matchup.
