Liberty midfielder Phillip Aseweh and defender Uriah Bentick each garnered Big South weekly honors this morning. Aseweh was selected Co-Attacking Player of the Week along with Gardner-Webb's John Sargent, while Bentick was named Defensive Player of the Week for the duo's play last week.
Both players had key roles in Liberty defeating No. 10 Virginia, 2-0, and Howard, 4-0, last week. The Flames' defeat of Virginia was the program's first-ever win over the Cavaliers. In addition, the two victories were the first two shutouts of the season for the team.
Aseweh scored three goals and recorded an assist last week. The three goals were the first markers of the season for the midfielder from Navrongo, Ghana. It is the first time the senior has been tabbed a Player of the Week by the conference.
Last Tuesday, Aseweh scored his first goal of the season in Liberty's win at Virginia. The midfielder took a pass in transition and buried a shot into the far right corner of the net to give the Flames a 2-0 lead in the 75th minute, en route to their victory over Virginia.
The midfielder followed it up with five points in a 4-0 win over Howard, Friday. He assisted on the game's first goal, stepping in front of a clearing pass and quickly dropping a pass to Timothy Bullock for the score. In the second half, Aseweh scored twice in a three minute span, scoring on a rebound of a shot and later, converting a penalty kick. The point total was the midfielder's most points in a contest since posting seven in his first game with the Flames in a 10-1 win over Concord, Sept. 1, 2009.
Bentick helped anchor the Flames' defense in their win at Virginia. Not only was it the first Liberty shutout of the year, but the junior and the Flames' defense did not allow a shot on goal the entire 90 minutes.
In the 60th minute with the game scoreless, Bentick made one of the biggest stops of the night for Liberty. Off a free kick, Virginia sent a crossing pass from the left side of the field through the box for free player on the right side. The Cavalier, who was open and had an empty net, ripped a shot which Bentick closed on, blocked down and cleared to stop the attack.
Friday, the Port of Spain, Trinidad native did not allow a Howard shot to be taken from his side in a 4-0 win. In addition, the junior converted a penalty kick in the game for his first goal of the year. Liberty allowed only one shot in the contest.
Liberty will host the Southern Virginia Knights, tonight at Osborne Stadium. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.