This post was written by Hatchet reporter Nora Princiotti.

The exclamation point on men’s soccer’s successful weekend came Monday when freshman defender Tobi Adewole was named Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week.

Adewole played 110 minutes of shut-down defense against No. 19 Dayton, the highest scoring team in the country, en route to a 0-0 draw. He added 85 minutes against defending A-10 champion Saint Louis on Sunday, also recording two shots in the 1-1 tie.

That ability to contribute on offense could be the most valuable part of Adewole’s defense for the Colonials. Head coach Craig Jones has said that the team needs to improve its play in transition more than any other area of the game, and the rookie is showing progress that bodes well for the team.

Adewole’s collective 195 minutes over the weekend led all freshman on the squad and were good for third overall. His ROTW award is the first for a GW rookie since 2009 when Seth Rudolph was awarded for his late October play.

The Colonials defense started the season battling inconsistencies, but Adewole, along with the rest of the backline, will look to show that they are the real deal against A-10 rival Fordham (3-7-1) on Sunday.