PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The American Athletic Conference has announced the winners of the league’s weekly men’s soccer honors for the week ending Sunday, Oct. 23.
Offensive Player of the Week
Matias Pyysalo * Jr. * M/F * UCF
Pyysalo finished with five points last week after scoring two goals and adding an assist in a pair of games. The junior registered his sixth career game-winning and first-career golden goal to lift UCF to it’s first-ever win over RV/RV UConn, 2-1, in overtime on Saturday. Pyysalo leads the American with five goals in conference play.
Defensive Player of the Week
Jordan Cano * Jr. * B * SMU
Cano and the SMU backline limited Cincinnati to three shots on goal in a 1-0 shutout of the Bearcats Sunday at Westcott Field. It marked the second consecutive shutout for the Mustangs. Cano also scored the game-winning goal in the victory over Cincinnati after finding the back of the net in the 34
th minute.
Goalkeeper of the Week
Spasoje Stefanovic * Sr. * USF
Stefanovic made four saves, including one in the final minutes, to clinch his second consecutive shutout in USF’s 1-0 win over Memphis. The win gave the Bulls 12 points in conference play and pushed USF into sole possession of first place in league standings with two games remaining. Stefanovic’s scoreless streak has now reached 180 consecutive minutes.
Rookie of the Week
Brian Jamba * Fr. * M * UCF
Jamba scored his first career goal to give UCF a 1-0 lead vs. RV/RV UConn in the 76
th minute. The rookie finished the match with two shots and played all minutes in both matches this week, which included a double overtime match vs. Stetson.
Weekly Honor Roll
Dylan Greenberg * R-So. * B * UConn
Scored the game-winning goal in a 1-0 (OT) win over RV/23 Boston College
Nazeem Bartman * Sr. * F * USF
Scored the game-winning goal in a 1-0 shutout of Memphis on Saturday
Michael Nelson * Jr. * GK * SMU
Made three saves, including several in the final minutes of play, in a 1-0 shutout of Cincinnati
Matt Mahoney * Sr. * B * Temple
Notched his first goal of the season, the game-winning shot in the 78
th minute, in Temple’s 2-1 win over Delaware
Jordan Wix Rauch * So. * F * Temple
Scored the equalizing goal in the 87
th minute in Temple’s 1-1 double overtime draw vs. Tulsa