Upper Iowa's Alan Dunlop was selected as the GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week in the conference's fifth men's soccer weekly release of the 2021 season following a pair of strong performances that helped the Peacocks go 2-0 at home over their Homecoming weekend. Dunlop is Upper Iowa's fourth conference player of the week honoree of the fall season, joining women's soccer's Aimee Sies and Katrina Kazluski and volleyball's Charisma Herr, who have each been named as the NSIC Defensive Player of the Week for their respective sports.

Dunlop was a major contributor in Upper Iowa's two wins against Great Lakes Conference opponents over the UIU Homecoming weekend. Against Northern Michigan, the Glasgow, Scotland native assisted Cain Smith on UIU's go-ahead goal at the 51:05 mark and helped the defense lock down a 3-0 shutout win. The Peacocks held the Wildcats to just two shots in the match, and neither attempt was on target. Upper Iowa had a 6-0 (two on goal) shot advantage in the first half and an 11-2 (five on goal) advantage in the second period. Against Wisconsin-Parkside, Dunlop dished out two assists for the Peacocks as his pass to Stan Cargill in the 29th minute helped put Upper Iowa up 1-0 before another Dunlop dime to Italo Martins Soares in the 80th minute helped ice the match in UIU's 3-1 win. The defender also helped the Peacocks neutralize a Parkside offensive attack that had been averaging three goals per game in his 88 minutes of play as the Rangers were held to only one goal that came on a penalty kick. The senior's seven assists rank second in the GLIAC, and he has recorded an assist in all but two of UIU's nine matches this season as the team has started strong with a 6-3 (3-3 GLIAC) record. 

Martins Soares earned an honorable mention for the GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week award after a strong offensive showing over the weekend. Against Northern Michigan, Martins Soares scored in the 73rd minute to put the Peacocks up 2-0 before they went on to win 3-0. Against Wisconsin-Parkside, the Brasília, Brazil native put the match out of reach to secure a 3-1 win for Upper Iowa with his goal in the 80th minute. Martins Soares also picked up an assist to Duarte Fonte to put UIU up 2-0, and the forward led the match with six shots in his 88 minutes of action. The senior is tied for second in the GLIAC with seven goals, ranks third in the conference in points with 17, and has scored a goal in five consecutive matches for UIU.

Upper Iowa has won three consecutive matches in the high-powered Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference after not winning a match in their first two member-seasons. The Peacocks are tied for the fourth most conference wins after knocking off a Parkside team that holds the best record in the conference at 7-2-1 and ranks second in the conference standings at 4-2. UIU improved to a 4-1 record at home on Pattison Field on the season.

Next up, the Peacocks are scheduled to play a reserve match on Wednesday, Oct. 6, against Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, before seeing St. Cloud State University on Saturday, Oct. 9 in St. Cloud, Minn. for a GLIAC match at 3 p.m.