Cortland senior forward Matt Shultz (Oneonta) and graduate student defender Alex Lessman (Plainview/Plainview-Old Bethpage) have been chosen as the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Men's Soccer Offensive and Defensive Athletes of the Week, respectively, for the week ending Oct. 20.
 
Shultz had a record-breaking week for the nationally 21st-ranked Red Dragons in a 3-0 week, scoring 10 points on five goals, with one game-winning goal. He also broke a pair of Cortland career records during the week. The senior tallied three goals in a 5-0 victory over Fredonia on Wednesday, and became the all-time leader for goals in a career with 36 career goals. He also scored the game-winning goal for the Red Dragons in the 14th minute of a 3-0 victory over Delhi on Sunday, breaking Cortland's career points record with 92 points. Additionally, Shultz netted a goal in a 3-0 victory over Morrisville on Saturday, flicking the ball up to himself and sending a volley into the left corner of the net.

Playing in all 18 games for Cortland so far this season with 17 starts, Shultz leads the team with 29 points on 13 goals and three assists. He has also registered three game-winning goals.  
 
Shultz is the third different player for Cortland to earn the conference's offensive athlete of the week award this season, joining teammates Yasin Choukri (Wilton, CT) and Mateo Marra (Ossining).

Lessman had a strong week for the Red Dragons, captaining the Cortland back line to three shutouts in a 3-0 week, while also registering two points on one goal. The graduate student scored Cortland's second goal in a 3-0 victory over Morrisville on Saturday afternoon, and played all 90 minutes as the Red Dragons did not allow a shot on goal in the contest. He started and played 84 minutes at center back in Cortland's 5-0 victory over Fredonia on Wednesday, and made a vital interception to help start the attack leading to the game-winning goal. Lessman finished the week by starting and playing 83 minutes in a 3-0 win over Delhi on Sunday, also making the pass that eventually led to the game-winning goal and helping Cortland allow just one shot on goal.

The defender has started 17 games for Cortland this season, and has recorded three points, while also helping the Red Dragons post six shutouts in games that he has played.  

Lessman joins goalkeeper Jordan Ott (Fort Worth, TX/Southwest Christian) as the second Cortland player to win the conference's defensive athlete of the week award this season.
 
The Red Dragons have won five straight contests, including four straight shutouts. Cortland is 12-3-3 (5-1-1 SUNYAC) on the season, and hosts Canton on Wednesday at 3 p.m.