FB's Pat Sommerstad, Sam Moen get MIAC honors

October 23, 2006
Outside linebacker Pat Sommerstad (JR-Apple Valley/Eastview) and punt returner Sam Moen (FR-Mahtomedi) received MIAC football Player of the Week honors Monday.

Sommerstad was named Defensive Player of the Week. He had 10 tackles (four solo), a fumble recovery, one pass knockdown and one other pass break up to help the Tommies post a 21-15 road victory at Concordia-Moorhead and stay in the conference title race. Sommerstad led a secondary that limited the Cobbers to 3-for-17 pass completions for 31 yards. The UST defensive starters have allowed just 10 TDs in seven games. The Toms rank among the Division III leaders in pass defense with 14 interceptions (three by Sommerstad) while allowing just 128 passing yards per game.

Moen was named Special Teams Player of the Week. With UST clinging to a 7-6 lead in the third quarter, Moen's 63-yard punt return for a touchdown (the longest in the MIAC this season) helped the Tommies in their eventual 21-15 road win at Concordia-Moorhead. Moen also had a 19-yard punt return to the Cobber 39-yard line that set up the Toms' first touchdown. He's averaging 15.6 ypr on 12 runbacks this season. One of six true freshman making big contributions for the 5-2 Tommies, Moen has two of the longest TDs in the conference this season, he caught a 71-yard TD pass on the game's third play last week against Augsburg.

Sommerstad is UST's first offensive or defensive MIAC Player of the Week this season. Moen's honor marks the third week in a row the Toms have been honored as Special Teams Player of the Week.

UST ended a four-game losing streak to Concordia and won its third in a row to stay in the MIAC title race as it hosts 8-0 St. John's this week.