Big South Announces Men's Soccer Players of the Week - Aug. 31

Big South Announces Men's Soccer Players of the Week - Aug. 31

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. (www.BigSouthSports.com) – Longwood forward Brando Bedolla (Greenville, S.C.) has been named the Big South Men’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week, while UNC Asheville’s Lucca Barros (Mint Hill, N.C.) is the Defensive Player of the Week for matches played Aug. 24-30, it was announced today. In addition, High Point forward Nick Sarantakos (Williamsburg, Va.) has been selected as the Freshman of the Week.
 
Bedolla totaled seven points on two goals and three assists during Longwood’s 2-0 week, factoring into all four goals in the Lancers’ 4-2 win over Coastal Carolina. The junior recorded three assists against the Chanticleers, tying Longwood’s Division I single-game record, before capping the performance with a rocket from just outside the 18-yard box in the 75th minute. Bedolla also scored the game-winning goal in Longwood’s 5-0 win over Southern Virginia, finding the lower-right corner from 22 yards out in the sixth minute. He started and played 30 minutes in the victory as the Lancers improved to 3-0 for the first time in program history at the Division I level and just the sixth time overall.
 
Barros matched a career-high with eight saves for UNC Asheville in a 1-1 draw against No. 3 Furman. The goalkeeper faced 18 shots from the nationally ranked Paladins, including 12 in the second half, and kept Furman off the scoreboard until the 79th minute. Barros came up with two key saves in the final minutes of the first half before making six more stops after halftime. The Mint Hill, N.C. native finished the match with a .889 save percentage.
 
Sarantakos recorded a goal and an assist in High Point’s 3-2 road win over No. 11 Virginia, helping the Panthers secure their first nationally ranked victory of the season. The freshman put HPU in front, 2-1, in the 43rd minute after capitalizing on an assist from goalkeeper Josh Caron. After Virginia evened the match early in the second half, Sarantakos assisted on the game-winning goal in the 89th minute to lift the Panthers to the road victory. The performance marked the second consecutive game to open his career in which he recorded three points on a goal and an assist.
 
Also nominated for Offensive Player of the Week: Aidan Morrison (High Point) and Pablo Ortega (Winthrop). 
 
Also nominated for Defensive Player of the Week: Jackson Boreham (Radford).
 
Also nominated for Freshman of the Week: Levon Saribekyan (Longwood) and Teo Jelaca (Winthrop).