Week #17 NASL Players of the Week: Brian Shriver & Brad Knighton

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. – August 1, 2011

Brian Shriver Offensive Player of the Week
The NASL has named Fort Lauderdale Strikers forward Brian Shriver Offensive Player of the Week. Shriver scored two goals in the Strikers 3-0 win against FC Edmonton on Saturday night at Lockhart Stadium.

“Brian had a very good week of training and the game was a reward for that,” said Head Coach Daryl Shore. “His teammates did a good job of getting him the ball when he was in good spots and he took his chances well. He deserved this honor this past week.”

Shriver keyed the Strikers offense with excellent diagonal runs and was able to convert his chances into goals. He is now second on the team with four goals on the season, two behind Eduardo Coudet. Shriver is the first Strikers player to be named Offensive Player of the Week, as both Matt Glaeser and Aaron Hohlbein were named Defensive Players of the Week earlier this season.

Cary, N.C. – – August 1, 2011

Brad Knighton was named the NASL Defensive Player of the Week
Carolina RailHawks goalkeeper Brad Knighton was named the NASL Defensive Player of the Week for Week 17, the league announced on Monday.

Knighton made three saves and picked up his sixth shutout of the season in Saturday’s weather-shortened 1-0 win over Atlanta at WakeMed Soccer Park.

Knighton made his biggest save of the night in the 29th minute. Atlanta’s Willie Hunt flicked on a corner kick to teammate Matt Horth, who was unmarked in front of the goal. Knighton somehow flew across the goalmouth and smothered the chance.

This is the third time this season Knighton has been chosen as Defensive Player of the Week, and it’s the 12th time a member of the RailHawks has been honored as offensive or defensive player of the week this season.

“It’s definitely an honor, “Knighton said. “And it’s nice for our backline because it’s been a while, maybe three or four weeks, since our last shutout. It was nice to put a zero on the board, even if it was only for a short time. Things are coming together and we’re heading in the right direction. Hopefully, it will continue.”

Knighton has played all 1,580 minutes of the RailHawks’ season in goal. He leads the league in goals against average (0.788) is tied for the league lead in shutouts (six) and is second in saves (77). He’s already broken the club record for goalkeeper wins in a season (14) and he’s on pace to set a new single-season saves record.