WICHITA, Kan. (MacBulldogs.com) — The McPherson College Bulldogs had a 2-0 week, powered by monster performances by Nathan Van Wyck and Keito Takehara, Jr. which earned them both Player of the Week honors, the league announced Monday (Sep. 23). This is the first since 2021 that the Bulldogs have swept the player of the week honors.
“Keito and Nathan are both very deserving of this recognition after their performances this past week,” head coach Kent Freund said. “They are both continuing to grow within this team, and it’s starting to show in their game.”
Takehara, a native of Kawachinagano, Japan, was stellar in the net this week for the Bulldogs, making six saves in the Bulldog win over Tabor College, including a monster save in the 86th minute to keep the Bulldogs with a one-goal lead. He followed that performance with a pair of saves, including stopping a penalty kick in the win over Avila.
Picking up his first offensive player of the week honors, Van Wyck, notched his first career hat trick in the Bulldogs 4-1 win over Avila. The London, England native’s first goal came on a header in the six-yard box in the seventh minute, then he rifled a shot past the keeper in the 25th minute for his second goal of the contest. Van Wyck completed the hat trick with a penalty shot.
Van Wyck, Takehara, and the Bulldogs will be back in action Wednesday (Sep. 25), traveling to Salina, Kan. to take on the Kansas Wesleyan University Coyotes.
