Santo Arena (left) and Ben Zakowski earned MAAC awards. (Photo courtesy of Monmouth SID)

Monmouth University junior Santo Arena Monday was named the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference offensive player of the week and freshman Ben Zakowski was selected rookie of the week.

In Monmouth’s 1-0-1 week, Arena led the team with five points. After assisting on the first goal against Siena College Wednesday, the junior scored the game-winner. At Rider University, Arena scored the equalizer in the 58th minute.

Zakowski scored two goals last week, including one in the win over Siena and another in the draw at Rider. The freshman registered his first career goal on a header Wednesday. In the 2-2 tie Saturday, he intercepted a pass and scored an equalizer in the 25th minute.

Both earned league honors for the first time in their careers.

Monmouth, which improved to 1-2-1 in the MAAC, will host Saint Peter’s College Wednesday night.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.