OKLAHOMA CITY -- After allowing just one goal across 180 minutes and helping No. 8 John Brown University to a pair of league victories, junior goalkeeper Juan Almanza was named the Sooner Athletic Defensive Player of the Week, presented by Digital Scoreboards, the league office announced Monday (Oct. 5).
Almanza finished the week 2-0-0 with a 0.50 goals-against average and .750 save percentage as the Golden Eagles outscored their opponents 6-1. He opened the week with a one-save clean sheet in Tuesday afternoon's (Sept. 29) 3-0 road victory at Southwestern Christian (Okla.) before making two stops Saturday afternoon (Oct. 3) as JBU rallied past Science & Arts (Okla.), 3-1.
The two victories lowered Almanza's season goals-against average from 1.20 to 1.00 while improving his save percentage from .667 to .682. He now owns a 5-1-1 record with three shutouts as John Brown improved to 3-0-0 in league action.
The selection is the fourth SAC weekly award of Almanza's career and his second this season, while giving the Blue and Gold five men's soccer weekly honors in 2026 among four different players. Senior Marco Brizuela opened the season with Offensive Player of the Week recognition Aug. 24, sophomore Constantin Bauer and Almanza swept the offensive and defensive awards Sept. 7, respectively, and freshman Parker Ross collected Defensive Player of the Week honors Sept. 14.
John Brown continues the campaign on the road Tuesday evening (Oct. 6), meeting Central Christian (Kan.) at CCCK Soccer Field in McPherson, Kan., at 5:30 p.m. The matchup will be carried live on Urban Edge Network and the SAC Sports Network.
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