UC Santa Barbara forward Nick Perera (Madrid, Spain/European School of Brussels) was named the Big West Men’s Soccer Player of the Week after leading the Gauchos back into first place.
The sophomore scored twice in the Gauchos' 2-0 home conference win over then #7 UC Irvine, propelling them into a first-place tie with the Anteaters. The victory also snapped UCI's eight-match unbeaten streak and handed the Anteaters their first loss since early Septemeber.
Perera, who did not score last season as a freshman, now has three goals and an assist for seven points on the year. He is second on the the team in goals and third in points. Two of his goals have been of the game-winning variety, making him one of five players in the conference to have two game-winners.