Three Central student-athletes handed weekly conference accolades

Central Dutch Athletics

PELLA — A Central College men’s soccer player and two football players were recognized as American Rivers Conference Performers of the Week as announced by the league office Monday.

Defender Taylor Petkovich (junior, Littleton, Colo., Heritage HS) was chosen as the men’s soccer defensive player of the week. Placekicker Jon Alberts (Huntley, Ill., Huntley HS) was tabbed for the special teams performer of the week while defensive end Lou Gomez (sophomore, Mission, Texas) was selected as the defensive player of the week.

In two Central wins, Petkovich played 178 of a possible 180 minutes. The only goal allowed by the Dutch last week came in the minutes Petkovich subbed out near the end of the 2-1 win over Nebraska Wesleyan University. Central also shut out the University of Dubuque 1-0 on Tuesday.

Looking for a fifth-consecutive victory, Central will travel to Buena Vista University on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

In Central’s 17-16 win over Simpson College, Alberts was 3-for-3 on kicking attempts. He started the scoring with a 34-yard field goal at the end of the first quarter. His second converted PAT with 22 seconds remaining was the difference in the Dutch win.

Gomez had a career-high 11 stops in the Central victory over Simpson. In the second quarter with Simpson facing 4th-and-2 from the Central 10-yardline, Gomez burst through the line for a tackle-for-loss that turned the ball over on downs.

Central faces Wartburg College on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. in Waverly.