NEW ULM — Martin Luther College sophomore Joseph Graumann was named Upper Midwest Athletic Conference Men’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week on Monday.

Graumann scored once in a 3-1 win over Crown College on September 13, and then added two more goals (including the game-winner) in a 3-2 win over Northland College on September 16.

Graumann currently leads MLC and ranks second in the conference with five goals and ten points this season. He is also tied for second in the UMAC with 20 total shots.

Graumann and the Knights have won three straight games and opened the conference season with a 2-0 record. MLC will return to action on Tuesday when it hosts North Central University in a game scheduled to start at 2 p.m.

Bitter honored in cross-country

NEW ULM — MLC sophomore Benjamin Bitter was named UMAC Men’s Cross Country Runner of the Week on Monday.

Bitter earned the honor thanks to his performance at the St. Olaf Invitational on Saturday, September 16, when he finished in eighth place out of 278 runners at the event.

Eight of the nine schools from the UMAC participated at the event, and Bitter’s time of 26:18.9 was the best of any UMAC runner. It also led MLC to the best team finish among the UMAC schools in attendance.

This marks the third UMAC Runner of the Week honor for Bitter in his career. He won the award last fall during the cross country season, and also won the honor in track and field in April of 2017.

Bitter and the Knights will return to action on Saturday, September 30, when they compete at Wisconsin Lutheran College.