NEW ORLEANS — Kentucky’s Ben Damge and West Virginia’s Marc Bonnaire both turned in spotlight performances in their team’s conference matches this past week and have been named Sun Belt Men’s Soccer Players of the Week. 

Offensive Player of the Week
Ben Damge, Kentucky
(JR | Mason, Ohio)

Ben Damge became the first Kentucky player to score a hat trick in nine years as he led the No. 3 Wildcats (8-0-2, 3-0-1 SBC) to a 6-0 victory over Georgia Southern on Sunday. The last time a Wildcat netted three goals in a single match was Tyler Riggs in 2013 against Florida Atlantic. The Mason, Ohio, native, is also the 10th player in program history to record a hat trick. The junior forward ranks second on the squad and fifth in the conference with five goals on the year. 

Defensive Player of the Week
Marc Bonnaire, West Virginia
(R-SO | Warrenton, Va.)

Marc Bonnaire made his collegiate debut for the Mountaineers on Saturday at Old Dominion, earning the 4-0 shutout victory. The Warrenton, Va., native, faced nine shots on the night and made one save on his way to the clean sheet.  

2022 Sun Belt Men’s Soccer Offensive Players of the Week
Week 1 – Milo Yosef, Marshall
Week 2 – Matthew Bell, Marshall
Week 3 – Eythor Bjorgolfsson, Kentucky
Week 4 - Justin McLean, Georgia State
Week 5 – Eythor Bjorgolfsson, Kentucky
Week 6 – Max Wilkins, Georgia State
Week 7 - Ben Damge, Kentucky
 

2022 Sun Belt Men’s Soccer Defensive Players of the Week
Week 1 – Joey Batrouni, Coastal Carolina
Week 2 – Oliver Semmle, Marshall
Week 3 – Ryan Holmes, Marshall
Week 4 - Casper Mols, Kentucky
Week 5 – Sebastian Conlon, James Madison
Week 6 – Peter Dearle, Coastal Carolina
Week 7 - Marc Bonnaire, West Virginia