BANKS NETS THIRD WEEKLY HONOR AS MEN’S SOCCER RANKS 38TH IN RPI AND MOVE UP TO NO. 9 IN REGION

DURHAM, N.H. - Senior forward Chris Banks (Westborough, Mass.), who scored the game-winning goal against No. 15 Boston University and the first of two goals in a 2-0 win over No. 25 ranked UMBC, was selected as the ECAC Co-Offensive Player of the Week Tuesday afternoon after propelling the University of New Hampshire men's soccer team to No. 9 in the NSCAA/adidas Northeast Regional Poll.

Earning their fourth victory in the last six games, the Wildcats improved to 5-5-1 and 2-0-0 in America East play over the weekend, all while defeating a nationally ranked team on the road for the second time this season.

The Wildcats, who were previously unranked, earn a top-10 regional ranking for the second year in a row as they defeated UMass (Sept. 20) last season to move up to No. 5 in the region. In addition to advancing regionally, the Wildcats also move up to 38th in the NCAA men's soccer RPI rankings, a standing that is the highest among America East schools.  

Banks, who earlier in the day was named College Soccer News National Player of the Week, led New Hampshire with his first goal of the week against Boston University in the 73rd minute on a header to give the Wildcats the win, snapping the Terriers' five-game winning streak, in a 2-1 victory.

The forward added to his stellar week against UMBC, when he scored a goal off a pass from Jordan Thomas (Mohnton, Pa.) and punched the ball into the far left hand corner of the net from 14 yards out at 60:27.

Banks leads the Wildcats in both goals and points this season, with four and nine, respectively. Three of those four goals are game-winners, including the most recent against the Terriers. The forward has also led the ‘Cats in shots in every game this season, compiling a total of 36.

Banks and the Wildcats return to action on Wednesday, Oct. 14 when they play host to the Hartford Hawks, at 3 p.m. at Lewis Fields.