Furlong Earns Second American Freshman of the Week Honor
September 21, 2026 | Men's Soccer
IRVING, Texas – The Missouri State men's soccer team added a fourth American Conference weekly award for the season Monday. The league announced that Ben Furlong was named Freshman of the Week for the second time this season, while 5th year Diego Real earned an honorable mention.
Furlong, hailing from Liverpool, England, earned the honor after a stellar week of competition where he tallied his second and third goals of the season.
Furlong scored the first goal of the night in just the ninth minute in the Bears' 3-3 tie with No. 16 Kansas City on Sept. 16.
In the 72nd minute of the Bears' dominant 3-0 American Conference victory over Temple on the road on Sept. 20, Furlong scored the final stunning header.
This marks Furlong's second Freshman of the Week award this season, the first coming on Sept. 7.
Furlong tallied 75 minutes of play against Kansas City and 59 minutes against Temple.
Real from Valencia, Spain earned the honorable mention after also scoring a goal in both the Kansas City and Temple matches. This marks a team-high five goals for the season.
Real registered 85 minutes of play against Kansas City and 63 minutes against Temple.
The Bears are home again for their next match on Friday, Sept. 25 at 7:00 p.m. to compete against South Florida at Betty & Bobby Allison South Stadium. Admission is free all season long.
#GoBears
