Sac State's Vegaalban, UCSB's Zeller and CSUB's Wangusi Claim Player of the Week Accolades

9/11/2023 3:00:00 PM

Offensive Player of the Week
Dominic Vegaalban, Sacramento State | Junior • Forward • Rocklin, Calif.

Sacramento State junior forward Dominic Vegaalban recorded a hat trick in Thursday's 5-2 win over Pacific.
Vegaalban scored all three goals in the final 30 minutes of the game. With the score tied 2-2, the Rocklin, Calif. native netted the game-winner on a free kick in the 64th minute, then scored two more times in the run of play in the 69th and 81st minutes.
It is the seventh recorded hat trick in Hornet program history.
Vegaalban has compiled four goals in four games played this season.
The junior forward finished with a team-high three shot attempts at No. 24 Loyola Marymount on Sunday.
Vegaalban has compiled four goals in four games played this season.
Sacramento State is currently 3-3 on the year.

81' | HATS OFF DOMINIC VEGAALBAN!
The seventh recorded ?? trick in program history belongs to the junior who beats the GK 1v1 for his third goal of the 2nd half... 5-2 Hornets lead with less than five to play #StingersUp @BigWestSports @NCAASoccer pic.twitter.com/5aqq6kl3O2
— Sacramento State Men's Soccer (@SacStMSoccer) September 8, 2023
Also Nominated: Sulaiman Bah (Cal State Fullerton), Lucas Gonzalez (UC Santa Barbara), Ethan Hoard (UC Davis), Armando Ibarra Jr. (UC Riverside), Bilal Mihoubi (Cal State Bakersfield), Agaton Pourshahidi (UC Irvine);

Defensive Player of the Week
Leroy Zeller, UC Santa Barbara | Senior • Goalkeeper • Zulpich, Germany

UC Santa Barbara senior goalkeeper Leroy Zeller compiled 12 saves as the Gauchos went 2-0 on the week.
Zeller recorded eight saves in Monday's 2-1 triumph over UNLV for a .889 save percentage. The lone goal given up by UC Santa Barbara came on a penalty kick.
The senior made four stops in Saturday's 5-2 win against Utah Valley. With the score tied 2-2 at halftime, Zeller did not allow a goal in the second half as the Gauchos netted three of their own to pull away for the win.
The Zuplich, Germany product has started every match this season, playing all 450 minutes.
UC Santa Barbara currently sports a 3-2 overall record on the year.
It is Zeller's second Defensive Player of the Week honor, having won it once last season.

LEROY AT FULL STRETCH! His sixth save of the night preserves the lead!????#GoGauchos pic.twitter.com/2pTca1FwR0
— UC Santa Barbara Men's Soccer (@UCSBMensSoccer) September 5, 2023
Also Nominated: Carlos Gonzalez (UC Riverside), Bryan Gutierrez (Sacramento State), Brandon Limes (Cal State Bakersfield);

Freshman of the Week
Jesse Wangusi, Cal State Bakersfield | Freshman • Midfielder • Milton Keynes, England

Rookie midfielder Jesse Wangusi scored a goal in Cal State Bakersfield's 6-1 win over Fresno Pacific to help the Roadrunners to a 2-0 week.
Wangusi found the back of the net in the 72nd minute as the Roadrunners defeated Fresno Pacific Sunday night. It was the Milton Keynes, England product's second career game.
The freshman played nine minutes off the bench in Thursday's 1-0 victory at San Francisco.
Cal State Bakersfield is currently 2-1-2 overall on the season.

2023 Big West Men's Soccer Weekly Winners