WINONA, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University of Minnesota men's soccer team is off to its best start in more than 20 years, and a key ingredient to the Cardinals' winning recipe has been getting the ball to Sean Butcher (Cave Creek, Ariz.).
 
Butcher has been an offensive dynamo through the Cardinals' first four games this season—and his efforts have not gone unnoticed.
 
In fact, after scoring once and assisting on three others in the Cardinals' three victories last week, the entire Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference has taken notice.
 
And on Monday, Butcher was rewarded for his early season efforts, as the Cardinal senior was named the MIAC's Men's Soccer Player of the Week.
 
Butcher kicked off his week by assisting on both Saint Mary's goals in a 2-1 win over Viterbo last Wednesday. He added another assist in Saint Mary's 3-1 win over Finlandia on Saturday in the opening game of the BIG Athletics/Adidas M Club Tournament, before netting one of the Cardinals' two goals in a 2-1 win over Nebraska Wesleyan the following day.
 
Butcher, who leads the team in assists (3) and points (9)—and shares the team lead with three goals—has already notched his first collegiate two-goal game and his first collegiate two-assist game through the first four contests of the season.
 
The Cardinals (4-0-0)—off to their best start since winning four straight to kick off the 1986 season—open Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play on Wednesday, traveling to St. Thomas for a 4 p.m. showdown with the Tommies.