Luke Persenico's six-goal week leads to first career Heart Offensive Player of the Week

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – As the Clarke University men's soccer team won two of their three games last week, freshman forward Luke Persenico earned the Heart of America Athletic Conference's Offensive Player of the Week with his performance in the three games.

The Pride won games against University of St. Francis at home against Dordt University on the road while score five and six goals in each game respectively. Persenico specifically recorded a hat trick in each of the CU wins while also taking two shots against Northwestern College in Clarke's 1-0 loss on Friday.

Against St. Francis, Persenico's goals came in the 23^rd, 51^st, and 55^th minutes as his last goal came on a penalty kick. Against Dordt, his goals came in the 20^th, 28^th, and 82^nd minutes with the final goal giving the Pride a two-goal cushion after Dordt came back from down 5-1 to make it 5-4 in the second half.

Persenico has had a fantastic start to his freshman campaign with seven total goals in five games as he's only played in four of the five games. In the five games CU has played, they have won the three games in which Persenico has scored a goal.

Clarke men's soccer will play again this weekend when they travel to La Crosse, Wis. to face Viterbo University on Saturday, Sept. 11 at 1:00 p.m. CT.