Bolivar, Mo. – SBU athletics is excited to announce the first ever Grand Missouri Bank Athlete of the Week award. The student-athlete to earn this honor is Thomas Ladetto of the men's soccer team after they completed an 8-0 victory over Sterling College, the largest opening victory in program history.
 
Ladetto contributed largely to that win, scoring three of the eight goals, achieving the first hat trick by a men's soccer player since 2018. His first goal came less than a minute into play with an incredible bicycle kick off a cross from Saphir Ould-Aïssa. His second goal came just five minutes later as he found himself in the right spot at the right time to tap the ball in the back of the net. Ladetto's third and final goal happened in the 73^rd minute of the game as his shot from the top of the box bent around a defender and the goalie to bounce off the pipe and into the net.
 
That hat trick and impressive goals earned him the first Grand Missouri Bank Athlete of the Week award. SBU men's soccer looks to continue the strong start to the season on Tuesday, September 1^st as they travel to Evangel University for a 6 p.m. kickoff.