Three goals from Chase Minter of Cal Poly and two shutouts by Michael Breslin of UC Irvine netted the pair Big West Men’s Soccer Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week recognition.
Minter Takes Over Cal Poly’s Scoring Lead
Chase Minter (Heath, Texas/Rockwall-Heath HS) scored all three Cal Poly goals over the weekend to help the Mustangs to a split of Big West games against UC Riverside and Cal State Fullerton.
Minter converted the game-winning goal in a 1-0 victory over the Highlanders. Despite getting outshot 24-9 by the Highlanders, the Mustangs leaned on Minter to strike in the 82nd minute. Corralling a loose ball onto his chest seven yards from goal, Minter volleyed a shot past UCR goalkeeper KC John. The goal broke a nine-match scoreless streak for the junior midfielder.
In a 3-2 loss to the Titans, Minter led a comeback from a 2-0 deficit to tie the match with a pair of second half goals. Accumulating his second two-goal game of 2014, Minter scored in the 56th and 61st minutes after the Mustangs had been held without a shot attempt for the opening 55 minutes.
The goals were his fifth and sixth of the year, allowing him to take over the team’s scoring lead. Minter also led Cal Poly with five shot attempts.
Others nominated: Marc Fenelus (Cal State Fullerton); Chimdum Mez (Sacramento State); Mario Ortiz (UC Irvine)
Breslin Posts Consecutive Shutouts
UC Irvine goalkeeper Michael Breslin (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif./Tesoro HS) kept UC Davis and Sacramento State off the scoreboard to capture Big West Men’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week honors.
The two shutouts – his third and fourth of the 2014 campaign – allowed the Anteaters to take over sole possession of the South Division with seven points.
Breslin stopped four shots against the Aggies in a 1-0 victory, then returned to make three more stops in Saturday’s 2-0 whitewashing of the Hornets. All four of Breslin’s shutouts have come at home this season.
Others nominated: Wade Hamilton (Cal Poly); Mitchell Bell (Cal State Fullerton); James Del Curto (Sacramento State)