PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The American Athletic Conference has announced the winners of the league’s final weekly men’s soccer honors for the week ending Nov. 1.
Offensive Player of the Week
Stanton Garcia * Jr. * M/F * SMU
Garcia tallied three points for No. 9/14 SMU and had a hand in both Mustang goals in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Temple. The junior scored the opening goal in the 48
th minute and assisted on the second SMU tally in the 73
rd minute. The Mustangs clinched the American Athletic Conference regular season title with the win and enters the conference championship as the No. 1 seed.
Defensive Player of the Week
Jakov Basic * Fr. * B * UCF
Basic led the UCF back line in Saturday’s 1-0 shutout of Cincinnati. The Knights clinched the No. 5 seed in the upcoming conference championship with the win. Basic and the UCF defense have not allowed a goal in the last two matches and have gone 197 minutes without conceding a tally.
Goalkeeper of the Week
Michael Nelson * R-So. * SMU
Nelson recorded his fourth shutout in league play and seventh overall this season in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Temple. Nelson made five saves in Saturday’s match and helped the Mustangs clinch the American regular season title and No. 1 seed in the conference championship.
Rookie of the Week
Abdou Mbacke Thiam * Fr. * F * UConn
Thiam scored the game-winning goal in overtime for UConn in Saturday’s 2-1 win over No. 11/15 USF. The rookie found the back of the net on a penalty kick with 4:55 left in OT. With the win, the Huskies secured a top three seed at the conference championship and is one of four teams hosting a quarterfinals matchup on Saturday, Nov. 7.
Weekly Honor Roll
Matias Pyysalo * So. * M * UCF
Scored the game-winning goal in a 1-0 win over Cincinnati, his fourth game-winning tally of the season
Brendan Rennie * Fr. * GK * UCF
Posted second consecutive shutout, made one save in Saturday’s 1-0 win over Cincinnati
Scott Levene * R-So. * GK * UConn
Recorded a shutout win versus Yale, made five saves in a 2-0 week
Simen Olafsen * Fr. * B * UConn
Assisted on game-winning goal versus Yale, helped the Huskies post a shutout win over the Bulldogs
Jared Martinelli * Sr. * M * Temple
Logged four shots, including two on goal, against No. 9/14 SMU on Saturday