UC Santa Barbara freshman Axel Mendez and UC Riverside junior Philipp Dominique received Big West Men’s Soccer Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week praise for their efforts in conference action.
Mendez Nets Six Points In Unbeaten Week For Gauchos
Involved in four of the six goals UC Santa Barbara scored over two games, freshman Axel Mendez (Los Angeles, Calif./Cathedral HS) garnered Big West Men’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week accolades.
Mendez punctuated a productive week with two goals and two assists as the Gauchos upended Sacramento State by a 4-1 score and settled for a 2-2 draw versus Central Coast rival Cal Poly.
The midfielder contributed to the first three Gaucho goals in the midweek tilt with Sacramento State. He assisted on the first goal in the 17th minute before scoring the next two – in the 25th and 46th minutes – clinching his first career brace. Mendez’s spin and quick blast on his first goal proved to be the game-winner.
Trailing 2-0 in front of a home crowd of 14,000-plus, UCSB leaned on Mendez to key a comeback as he served up the game-tying assist against Cal Poly. Mendez was central to the offensive attack with his six shots included in a season-high 30 shot effort against the Mustangs.
Others nominated: Justin Dhillon (Cal Poly); Marc Fenelus (Cal State Fullerton); Sagi Lev-Ari (CSUN); Matt Sheldon (UC Davis)
Dominique Delivers In Upset Of No. 2 UC Irvine
Junior Philipp Dominique (Redlands, Calif./Redlands East Valley HS) helped UC Riverside defeat the highest-ranked opponent in school history en route to Big West Men’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week honors.
He scored the lone non-penalty kick goal to help the Highlanders defeat second-ranked UC Irvine, 2-1, on Wednesday night. He also helped pester the Anteaters on offense, with UCI producing just three shots on goal (including one PK) over the entire 90 minutes.
In Saturday’s 1-1 tie against Cal State Fullerton, Dominique spearheaded a Highlander defensive effort that yielded just four shots on goal to the Titans.
Others nominated: Wade Hamilton (Cal Poly); Jeff Salt (Cal State Fullerton); Adam Hobbs (CSUN); Philip Bru (Sacramento State); Armando Quezada (UC Davis); Jack Birkenbeuel (UC Irvine)