Freshman Eric Avila (San Diego, CA/Edison Academy) of UC Santa Barbara and UC Irvine junior Anthony Hamilton (Grand Terrace, CA /Colton HS of UC Irvine earned Big West Men’s Soccer Co-Players of the Week honors for their efforts last week.

Avila, a midfielder for the Gauchos, was responsible for both of the game-winning goals in UCSB’s matches last week. With less than one minute remaining in double-overtime, the freshman booted a 30-yard goal to give his team a 3-2 victory over UC Davis. At home on Saturday in a 2-0 win over Cal State Fullerton, he set up the game-winning goal for his teammate, Ivan Becerra. For his play last week, Avila was also honored with a selection to the College Soccer News National Team of the Week.

A forward for the Anteaters, Hamilton scored three goals in UCI’s 4-2 win over Cal Poly on Saturday, marking only the second hat trick this season by a Big West player. He also is the first Anteater since 2001 to accomplish the feat. The junior has nine goals on the season, which ranks him eighth all-time at UCI in a single season. Hamilton now has three game-winning goals in 2005 tying him for third in school history for game-winners in a single season and seventh all-time with four in his UCI career.