Big South Announces Men's Soccer Players of the Week - Sept. 28

Big South Announces Men's Soccer Players of the Week - Sept. 28

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. (www.BigSouthSports.com) – UNC Asheville forward Tyler Ware (Hooper, Utah) has been named the Big South Men’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week, while Longwood goalkeeper Nicolas Pucci (Cary, N.C.) is the Defensive Player of the Week for matches played Sept. 21-27, it was announced today. In addition, Gardner-Webb forward Christian Samaripa (Fort Worth, Texas) has been selected as the Freshman of the Week.
 
Ware totaled 10 points on four goals and two assists across two wins for UNC Asheville. The senior opened with two goals and an assist in a 3-0 win at Georgia State, scoring the eventual game-winner in the 43rd minute before adding another in the 72nd. He then scored twice in Sunday night’s win at Presbyterian, opening the scoring with a game-winning penalty kick in the 57th minute before finding the back of the net again in the 78th. Ware helped the Bulldogs remain unbeaten in Big South play while continuing their best start in the program’s Division I era.
 
Pucci recorded his first shutout of the season with four saves in Longwood’s 2-0 win over USC Upstate. The graduate goalkeeper made three saves in the opening half, including a pair of key stops in the 39th and 40th minutes. He denied a breakaway chance from the Spartans that would have tied the match just before halftime before keeping Upstate off the board the rest of the way. Pucci faced 10 shots while playing all 90 minutes in goal.
 
Samaripa totaled three points on a goal and an assist in Gardner-Webb’s 5-1 win over Radford, helping the Runnin’ Bulldogs earn their first conference victory of the season. The freshman scored an unassisted goal in the 26th minute to put Gardner-Webb ahead, 3-1, before assisting on another goal in the 64th minute to complete his three-point performance. Samaripa put both of his shots on goal during the week while playing 114 minutes, which also included 49 minutes in a 3-2 non-conference win over UAB.
 
Also nominated for Offensive Player of the Week: Nicolas Triguero (Gardner-Webb), Brando Bedolla (Longwood) and Owen Gaisford (Radford).
 
Also nominated for Defensive Player of the Week: Michael Mor (Gardner-Webb) and Lucca Barros (UNC Asheville).
 
Also nominated for Freshman of the Week: Vicent Martinez (Longwood), Bryce Paige (Radford) and Andrew Kohlberg (UNC Asheville).