Men's soccer player Gabe Franco has been named Lee University's Male Athlete of the Week after helping to guide the Flames to the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) championship match last week in Kissimmee, Fla.
The sophomore defender anchored the back line for the Flames and added a goal as they began the tournament with a 4-0 shutout of Mid-America. Lee would earn a 2-2 tie with Fresno Pacific to advance out of pool play and then top the Sunbirds the very next day in the semifinals, 2-1. Franco added a goal and assist in the victory. The dream season would come to an end in the championship match as the Flames fell to Southern Wesleyan, 1-0.
Franco was named to the All-NCCAA Tournament Team. The Mooresville, N.C. native was awarded the tournament's top defensive trophy and as a team the Flames were the tourney's sportsmanship award winner.
"Gabe not only played solid for us on the back, he contributed two important goals and an assist as a defender," Furey noted.
The Flames end the season with an impressive 13-5-6 overall mark.
