A pair of sophomores recorded a combined three game-winning goals in four victories to pick up the Big West men's soccer weekly awards.
DePuy Scores Three Times In Pair Of UC Santa Barbara Wins
Helping clinch at least a share of the Big West North Division title as well as the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament, UC Santa Barbara sophomore Nick DePuy (Irvine, Calif./Regis Jesuit HS) earned the nod as the Men’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week.
DePuy scored all three Gaucho goals – and by extension, both game-winners – as UCSB blanked UC Davis (1-0) and Cal Poly (2-0) to pick up six decisive points in the North Division standings.
He deposited the golden goal in the 99th minute of the first overtime against the Aggies, placing a first-touch shot to the top shelf off of a pass from Ryo Fujii. In front of a sellout crowd of 11,075 at Cal Poly’s Spanos Stadium, DePuy provided the first career brace with both goals coming in the first 22 minutes of the match.
DePuy, who was inserted at forward on Sept. 26, has scored seven of his team-leading eight goals in 11 appearances. The eight goals rank second in the Big West. His nine shots against UC Davis also ties for a Big West single-game high this season.
Others nominated: Ian Ramos (Cal State Fullerton); Marino Peixoto (CSUN); Cylus Sandoval (Sacramento State); Mario Ortiz (UC Irvine); Juan Mendoza (UC Riverside)
Gosselin Leads Sacramento State On 2-0 Roadtrip
Sacramento State sophomore Andrew Gosselin (Sacramento, Calif./Jesuit HS) earned the Big West Men’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week award as he helped the Hornets to a pair of crucial conference road wins.
Gosselin anchored the Hornet defense at center back, heading up an effort that yielded just six shots on goal apiece from Cal Poly and UC Davis.
He also got in on the act offensively, contributing his first two goals of the season in a 3-2 win against the Aggies. He put his team ahead in the 29th minute on a flick header from teammate Bert Corona, then recorded the game-winning strike on a similar header redirection off a free kick from Andres Garcia. The goal came in the 98th minute of the first overtime.
Others nominated: Jesse Vega (Cal State Fullerton); Adam Hobbs (CSUN); Michael Sperber (UC Irvine); K.C. John (UC Riverside); Duncan Backus (UC Santa Barbara)