GNAC Men's Soccer Report: Week 2

(FOR THE WEEK OF SEPT. 3-9)

PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Brett Mattos, Saint Joseph's (Maine) (Senior, F - Mahopac, N.Y.)

Mattos netted three goals with a pair of game-winners last week as the senior scored the clincher in wins over USJ and Bowdoin over the weekend. The Monks' all-time leading scorer became the first SJC men's soccer player to surpass the 100-point plateau in a 5-0 win over the Blue Jays on Saturday.

GOALKEEPER OF THE WEEK

Brendan Germano, Norwich (Sr., GK - Monroe Township, N.J.)

Germano stopped 17 of 20 saves on the week for an .850 save percentage, including posting a five-save performance vs. perennial regional powerhouse Middlebury to help the Cadets to a 0-0 tie, which was its first non-loss to the Panthers since 2005. He made eight saves vs. SUNY Maritime, including robbing a player at point-blank range early in the second half to preserve a 2-1 lead. 

ROOKIE OF THE WEEK

Leonardo Acosta, Suffolk (Fr., M - Miami, Fla.)

Acosta helped Suffolk secure its GNAC opener, a 3-1 victory over Rivier, Saturday with a career-high two-goal effort. He had a three-goal week overall as he also scored in a 3-2 setback against Framingham State. The freshman midfielder has recorded at least one point in three of four games in his first season in blue-and-gold. Overall, Acosta has a team-leading three goals to go along with one handout.


WEEK 2 HONOR ROLL

Nick Gutekunst, Johnson & Wales (RI) (Fr, M - East Northport, N.Y.) - Tallied a pair of goals - including his first collegiate goal - and an assist for five points in a GNAC win over Regis. 

Eric Badibanga, Norwich (Fr., M - Burlington, Vt.) - Badibanga had an impressive week, scoring a goal and two assists for four points to help lead Norwich to a 1-0-2 week, including the game-winner in a 3-1 win over SUNY Maritime.

Blake Mullen, Saint Joseph's (Maine) (Senior, GK - Manchester, Conn.) - Mullen logged over 235 minutes of shutout play in helping the Monks win three games last week. The senior keeper was outstanding in a 1-0 win at Bowdoin College on Sunday with three saves and numerous scoring chances negated with his leaping grabs in the box.

WEEK PLAYER GOALKEEPER ROOKIE
1 Riley McNicholas, JWU Blake Mullen, SJC  Amerlin Nemeye, Norwich
2 Brett Mattos, SJC Brendan Germano, NOR Leonardo Acosta, SUF

The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) is an NCAA Division III association made up of 13 member institutions and over 3,000 student-athletes across the New England region. Founded in 1995, the GNAC annually sponsors and administers 20 championships, while balancing academic integrity, athletic opportunity and community involvement in an effort to enhance the student-athlete experience. 

– #TheGNAC –