By: Chris Coon

On Monday senior forward Luke Holmes was named Top Drawer Soccer’s National Player of the Week after having an eye-opening week in his debut with Akron.

Holmes, who spent the first three years of his career at nearby NAIA school Notre Dame College recorded two goals and two assists in wins over Ohio State and Western Michigan this past week.

The Englishman made his debut last Wednesday against Ohio State recording a goal and an assist in a 3-1 at First Energy Stadium-Cub Cadet Field. Holmes who had to sit out the first seven games for the Zips due to NCAA transfer rules helped the Zips defeat Western Michigan on Saturday, 3-0 recording the same stat line like the OSU in UA’s opening match in Mid-American Conference play.

While at Notre Dame College, Holmes was named the 2010 NAIA Player of the Year while recording a career, 70 goals. Holmes is also responsible for leading his team to the schools first 2010 NAIA soccer national championship, compiling a record of 23-0-1. Holmes also had a team high 24 goals in the 2010 season, while also compiling 25 assists for 164 total points.

This is the second Akron player to receive National Player of the Week accolades from Top Drawer Soccer this season. The first was on Sept. 26 when sophomore forward Darren Mattocks was named to the honors after recording three goals in one game against Tulsa in a 3-0 victory. This was Mattock’s first hat trick of the season and the second of his career.