ALFRED, NY – Alfred University's Juan Jose Menendez Gutierrez (Villanueva Cañada, Madrid, Spain/Woodstock Academy) was named an Empire 8 Men's Soccer Co-Offensive Player of the Week on Monday afternoon.
 
He was joined by SUNY Geneseo's Dylan Thody and the other Co-Offensive Player of the Week.
 
Menendez Gutierrez was efficient for Alfred University, who competed against the top-seeded teams in the Empire 8 conference this past week in SUNY Brockport and SUNY Geneseo. Against Brockport, Menendez Gutierrez was credited with two shots on goal across a full 90 minutes from the midfield. In a 2-2 draw against Geneseo on Saturday, Menendez Gutierrez finished the game with three points from one goal and one assist. A pass from Menendez Gutierrez to teammate Hamza Kromah (Margibi, Liberia/Western Reserve Academy) in the 58th minute gave Alfred University the initial lead. After the Knights responded with two goals of their own, Menendez Gutierrez found the back of the net in the 71st first to force Geneseo's first in-conference draw of the fall season. The draw for Alfred University snapped a five-game winning streak for Geneseo in head-to-head match-ups dating back to the 2012 season.

Menedez Gutierrez was joined by Youssef amr Abdallatif (Cairo, Egypt/Raya Language School) as the Empire 8 Men's Swimming & Diving Athete of the Week on Monday.