ROCK HILL, S.C. – Sophomore midfielder Alex Payton and freshman defender Guilherme Quintas earned WePlayed Sports South Atlantic Conference (SAC) Men's Soccer Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week honors, the league office announced Monday afternoon.

Payton earned his second Offensive Player of the Week honors of the season by delivering a crucial three points in his return to the lineup.

The sophomore fired in the match's first goal in the 55th minute before creating an assist on the game-winner in the 81st by delivering a perfect centering pass to teammate João Magalhães in an impressive 2-1 road victory over No. 24 Anderson. Payton now leads the conference in goals per game with six in 11 matches.

Quintas earned his third Defensive Player of the Week honors of the season behind another quality performance.

The freshman played all 90 minutes for a tenacious Catawba defensive unit that allowed just two shots on goal to one of the conference's top offenses to remain undefeated and continue the program's best start to a season ever. The defender also applied pressure on the offensive end, adding the match's first shot on goal in the 38th minute.

Catawba (10-0-2, 6-0-1 SAC) jumped to the number one-ranked slot in the NCAA Division II Super-Region 2 Men's Soccer NPI Rankings and number five in the country in the second rankings release on Monday morning.  

The Catawba Indians will travel to Lincoln Memorial on Wednesday, October 21st for an important South Atlantic Conference match at 4 p.m.