GONDOLY EARNS WHAC DEFENSIVE POTW HONORS
DEARBORN, Mich. - The University of Michigan-Dearborn men's soccer team is off to a fast start, winning three of its first four games on the year, with a pair of victories coming in dramatic fashion.
The Wolverines took a pair of road wins over NCAA Division III programs over the weekend, topping Adrian College 4-3 in a game UM-Dearborn trailed 3-0 in the second half while adding a 3-1 victory over Olivet College on Sunday.
The strong returning core of Wolverines has been complemented by a crop of newcomers that have made an immediate impact. One of those young stars this season has been freshman defender Kevin Gondoly. The Dearborn native stepped up from his defensive position on Saturday to score the first two goals of his career, helping the Wolverines rally from a 3-0 hole to top Adrian.
Gondoly brought the Wolverines to within a goal in the 68th minute, while adding a header into the back of the net less than five minutes later to tie the score, setting up the eventual game-winner from fellow freshman Ali Khcheiche in the final minute of regulation.
For his efforts this week, Gondoly has been named the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week for the first time in his career, it was announced by the conference Monday.
The Wolverines return to action in their final nonconference game before the start of the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference season with a contest against NAIA newcomer Cleary University at 3 p.m. Friday in Howell, Mich.