Volmar, O’Reilly Earn Big Ten Men's Soccer Weekly Awards
8/26/2025 2:30:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Both members of duo receive first weekly league honor
EVANSTON, Ill. (August 26, 2025) – Northwestern University junior Fritz Volmar (Peoria, Ill/Laurel Springs) and first-year Aaron O'Reilly (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central) have both earned weekly men's soccer honors from the Big Ten Conference, it was announced on Tuesday. Volmar was tabbed as the league's Defensive Player of the Week, while O'Reilly received Freshman of the Week distinction.
Both Volmar and O'Reilly played central roles as the 'Cats opened the 2025 regular season with wins over Eastern Illinois, 2-0, and Air Force, 2-1, respectively.
Featuring at center back for the first time in three years, Volmar turned in a pair of stout performances last week. The Peoria, Ill. native was at the heart of a Wildcat defensive unit that limited Eastern Illinois and Air Force to a combined seven shots, only two of which came on target.
Just a year removed from a preseason injury that limited him to 15 appearances, Volmar logged a pair of 90-minute efforts, playing all 180 minutes of game action alongside fellow center back Nigel Prince. The 6-foot-0 defender is the first Wildcat to bring home the Big Ten's top weekly defensive accolade since Jackson Weyman on October 3, 2023.
O'Reilly wasted no time in making his presence felt across his first two collegiate appearances, both of which came in a starting role. A local product out of suburban Naperville, Ill., O'Reilly assisted on Peter Riesz's goal in the 81st minute of Thursday's win over Eastern Illinois, before firing home his first collegiate goal in Sunday's weekend finale with Air Force, a strike that proved to be the game winner.
O'Reilly, who marks the program's first Freshman of the Week honoree since the award was established prior to the 2024 season, became the first true Northwestern first-year to find the back of the net since Volmar and Bryant Mayer each scored in a 4-2 win over Ohio State on September 24, 2023.
Northwestern returns to Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium to host a pair of local rivals this weekend, entertaining Loyola Chicago (Aug. 29) and UIC (Sept. 1) in a pair of 6:30 p.m. CT kickoffs.
Both Volmar and O'Reilly played central roles as the 'Cats opened the 2025 regular season with wins over Eastern Illinois, 2-0, and Air Force, 2-1, respectively.
Featuring at center back for the first time in three years, Volmar turned in a pair of stout performances last week. The Peoria, Ill. native was at the heart of a Wildcat defensive unit that limited Eastern Illinois and Air Force to a combined seven shots, only two of which came on target.
Just a year removed from a preseason injury that limited him to 15 appearances, Volmar logged a pair of 90-minute efforts, playing all 180 minutes of game action alongside fellow center back Nigel Prince. The 6-foot-0 defender is the first Wildcat to bring home the Big Ten's top weekly defensive accolade since Jackson Weyman on October 3, 2023.
Rock Solid ??
— Northwestern Men's Soccer (@NUMensSoccer) August 26, 2025
Following a pair of stout performances, Fritz Volmar has been named the @B1GSoccer Defensive Player of the Week! pic.twitter.com/2Lz1Vf4fZp
O'Reilly wasted no time in making his presence felt across his first two collegiate appearances, both of which came in a starting role. A local product out of suburban Naperville, Ill., O'Reilly assisted on Peter Riesz's goal in the 81st minute of Thursday's win over Eastern Illinois, before firing home his first collegiate goal in Sunday's weekend finale with Air Force, a strike that proved to be the game winner.
O'Reilly, who marks the program's first Freshman of the Week honoree since the award was established prior to the 2024 season, became the first true Northwestern first-year to find the back of the net since Volmar and Bryant Mayer each scored in a 4-2 win over Ohio State on September 24, 2023.
First Impression ??
— Northwestern Men's Soccer (@NUMensSoccer) August 26, 2025
After tallying a goal and an assist last week, Aaron O'Reilly has earned @B1GSoccer Freshman of the Week honors! pic.twitter.com/2kofDHGnJs
Northwestern returns to Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium to host a pair of local rivals this weekend, entertaining Loyola Chicago (Aug. 29) and UIC (Sept. 1) in a pair of 6:30 p.m. CT kickoffs.
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