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, Sept. 23.
Offensive Player of the Week
Gabriel Costa * So. * M * SMU
Costa posted six points in SMU’s lone game of the week, scoring twice and assisting on two other goals as the Mustangs dispatched Tulsa 5-1. He potted the first goal of the game in the 15
th minute, assisted on another goal a minute later, and scored in the 46
th minute. No. 8 SMU rose to 8-0-0 on the season with the win, continuing the best start for a men’s soccer program in American Athletic Conference history.
Defensive Player of the Week
Javain Brown * So. * D * USF
Brown contributed on both ends of the field in a 2-0 week for USF, including victories over North Florida and UConn. Against the Ospreys, the Bulls’ defense permitted just five shots with only two on goal in a 1-0 victory. Brown then propelled USF to a conference-opening win against the Huskies, scoring the game-winner in the 81
st minute to seal the 2-1 victory. USF has won five of their last six matches.
Goalkeeper of the Week
Harrison Devenish-Meares * Sr. * USF
Devenish-Meares earned his fourth and fifth wins of the season last week, totaling three saves as the Bulls defeated North Florida and UConn. He turned aside two shots against the Ospreys, leading to a 1-0 victory as USF scored in the 81
st minute. Devenish-Meares then need to make just one save against UConn in the 2-1 win, keeping the game tied before the Bulls’ game-winner. He has played every minute in net for USF this season and owns a 1.43 goals against average.
Rookie of the Week
Jonas Schmalbach * Fr. * F * UCF
Schmalbach recorded his first career goal in the 77
th minute against Temple on Saturday, providing the insurance tally for the Knights in the 2-0 win. The victory gave the Knights a 1-0 start to conference play and marked UCF’s fifth-consecutive victory.
Weekly Honor Roll
Yannik Oettl * Jr. * GK * UCF
Made two saves for UCF in the Knights’ 2-0 conference-opening win over Temple; rose to 6-1-1 on the season in net and owns a 1.07 goals against average
Dayonn Harris * R-Sr. * F * UConn
Scored his first goal of the season on Friday – the lone goal for UConn in a 2-1 loss at USF; found the back of the net in the 61
st minute to knot the contest at one
Sam Ashton * Sr. * F * Memphis
Totaled seven points, including three goals and an assist, in a 2-0 week for Memphis; scored twice with the game-winning tally against Saint Louis before recording a goal and an assist in the Tigers’ 3-1 conference win at Cincinnati
Christoforos Kourtis * Jr. * M * Memphis
Finished with six points in Memphis’s 2-0 week, featuring victories over Saint Louis and Cincinnati; assisted on a pair of goals against the Billikens and registered the final two goals in the Tigers’ 3-1 win against the Bearcats on Saturday
Emilio Ycaza * Gr. * M * USF
Buried the Bulls’ first goal against UConn Friday, scoring in the 17
th minute to give the Bulls the early lead; finished the week with three shots, all against the Huskies