SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Freshman defender Mathis Robinand of the UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men's soccer team has been named the Southern Conference (SoCon) Defensive Player of the Week, the league office announced on Tuesday afternoon.
Robinand played all 90 minutes in UNCG's 3-1 win over NC State on Oct. 7, anchoring a Spartan defense that held the Wolfpack to just three shots on target and nine total attempts during the evening. After scoring in the 14th minute, NC State mustered just two more attempts on net over the final 75 minutes. UNCG's victory last week was the first for the Spartans over the Wolfpack since 2002, Robinand being one of five players to see action in every minute of the match.
Coming to Greensboro by way of Rognac, France, the first-year has steadily grown into a strong presence among the Spartans' backline. He's now started and played all 90 minutes for the Blue & Gold in each of the past three games, including scoring the winner against Liberty on Sept. 19 to mark his first collegiate goal.
In Robinand's four starts, beginning against USF on Sept. 15, opposing teams have mustered just seven shots on goal (1.75 per game) and UNCG sports a 10-2 goal differential over that span for a 3-0-1 record.
"Proud of the team after a great win last week," Robinand stated. "Time to focus on what's next, beginning tonight!"
He is the sixth Spartan to earn weekly recognition from the SoCon during the 2026 campaign, joining fellow French freshman Malo Jungling (Offensive, Sept. 22), Seth Wilson (Defensive, Sept. 15), Caleb Borneo (Offensive, Sept. 8), Keaviano Francis (Offensive, Sept. 1), and Trym Linberg (Defensive, Aug. 25).
The Spartans continue to pace the SoCon in weekly awards, with both Liberty and ETSU featuring the second-most with three each this season. Liberty is the only other program to have had both an Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week, while UNCG remains the only team to have multiple of both.
The Blue & Gold are back in action tonight at UNCG Soccer Stadium to host Marshall (6:00 p.m., ESPN+) before hitting the road to briefly resume SoCon action against VMI on Saturday, Oct. 17. Kickoff in Lexington, Virginia, at Patchin Field is slated for 3:00 p.m., also on ESPN+.
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