UC Santa Barbara forward Neil Jones (Auckland, New Zealand/Otago University) erupted for five goals over two games to collect Big West Men’s Soccer Player of the Week honors. His performance also gained him a spot on the College Soccer News National Team of the Week.

The senior scored his first goals of the season in a 3-0 win over UC Riverside in Big West action on Thursday. He achieved his first career hat trick in the process, as the Gauchos won their first game as the No. 1 ranked team in the nation, which coincidentally also was the team’s Big West opener.

In UCSB’s 4-0 victory against UNLV on Friday, Jones accounted for two more goals to give him five goals on six shots for the week. He also notched the game-winning assist in the win over the Rebels. Jones moved into eighth place on the UCSB list for career goals with 23.

This is the second career Big West Player of the Week for Jones.