Mayer Tabbed Big Ten Defensive Player Of The Week

EVANSTON, Ill. (September 29, 2026) – After helping lead a resolute showing last Friday, Northwestern University senior Bryant Mayer (Owings Mills, Md./McDonogh School) has been named the Big Ten Conference’s Defensive Player of the Week, the league office announced on Tuesday.  This marks the first weekly league honor of his career.

Aye, Aye, Captain 🫡

Congratulations to Bryant Mayer on being named the @bigten Defensive Player of the Week! pic.twitter.com/bdrXelmNSq

— Northwestern Men's Soccer (@NUMensSoccer) September 29, 2026

For the fifth time this season, Mayer put in a full 90-minute shift along the Wildcat backline as Northwestern, which was reduced to 10 men for the final hour, blanked Michigan, 1-0, at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium.  After going a man down shortly after the half-hour mark, the ‘Cats limited the Wolverines to just one shot on goal.

Mayer has again been a fixture in head coach Russell Payne’s lineup this season, starting in all eight of his appearances.  Apart from his defensive work, the Owings Mills, Md. native has made his presence felt in the final third, putting up a goal and three assists.  Mayer’s 12 career assists are tied for 14^th most in program history and have him sitting just two helpers shy of a spot in the top 10.

Looking to push its win streak to three games, Northwestern visits Rutgers in a 6 p.m. CT kickoff at Yurcak Field in Piscataway, N.J. on Friday, October 2.