Volume 4, September 29, 2008

PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Senior defender Rhett Bernstein (San Diego, Calif.) scored a pair of game-winning goals this week to secure two wins for the Brown men's soccer team and improve its record to 5-2-1. Bernstein's first goal of the week was scored in the 47th minute of play against #13 Boston College to lead Bruno to a 1-0 victory. He kept up his stellar play when the team traveled to North Carolina to take on UNC-Greensboro. He headed one in from eight yards out en route to a 3-0 victory for the Bears. Bernstein, a Hermann Trophy Watch List candidate, was also named National Player of the Week by the College Soccer News and Top Drawer Soccer's Player of the Week for the week. It is now Bernstein's third consecutive goal and third game-winner, as he leads the team in points with seven (3g, 1a).

THE HONOR ROLL
With a number of players out with nagging injuries or illness, Yale needed someone to step up in Tuesday's game with Quinnipiac. Senior Liam Leonard (Camarillo, Calif.) was happy to oblige. Leonard scored a pair of goals as the Bulldogs blanked the Bobcats 2-0. Leonard got Yale on the board at 22:29 when he settled a Charlie Neil pass and fired a low shot into the right corner of the goal. Nearly 11 minutes later, Leonard struck again. This one was set up by Justin Song, who dribbled down the right side and sent a cross into the box that Leonard headed home.

Junior forward Andre Akpan (Grand Prairie, Texas) scored two first-half goals in Harvard’s 3-1 win over previously unbeaten New Hampshire. The preseason All-American and candidate for the 2008 Hermann Trophy tallied goals at 8:18 and 34:22 to give the Crimson a 2-1 lead at halftime. On his first goal, Akpan received a pass and fired the ball into the right side of the net. Akpan scored the game-winner later in the half when he found the back of the net after taking a cross pass from inside the box. Akpan now has two goals and one assist on the year for five points.

Sophomore Ben Burton (Minneapolis, Minn.) was crucial in Princeton’s 2-1 win over Fairleigh Dickinson on Sunday. He scored his first collegiate goal, the game-winning goal, at 84:21 when he found the ball in a crowd in front of the net following a Devin Muntz free kick. He gave the Tigers a 1-0 lead at 32:05 when he set up teammate Brandon Busch’s goal with perfect placement on a free kick. His three-point game marked a career best. The win improved Princeton’s record to 2-5 this season.

Dartmouth sophomore back Bryan Giudicelli (Emerald Hills, Calif.) continued to prove how dangerous he can be on both ends of the field this week. Giudicelli was solid for the Big Green in its 1-0 win over San Diego State, scoring his third goal of the season and the game-winner. He scored the goal off a rebound from Craig Henderson in the second minute of play and then anchored the defense for the next 88 minutes to secure the shutout. In addition to being one of the Big Green's toughest defenders, Giudicelli ranks second on the team with seven points and three goals - all on just four shot attempts.

Sophomore Zach Barnett (Ellicott City, Md.) came off the bench and was a playmaker for Penn in both games last week. Specializing in attacking throw-ins, Barnett placed the ball perfectly for two of his assists. One of those balls ended up the game-tying goal against Temple. His third was cleverly played down the line and eventually ushered in for the score.

Cornell sophomore goalkeeper Scott Brody (Edison, N.J.) made three saves in the Big Red's 1-0 loss to Binghamton on Friday night, but all three were clutch stops to keep the Big Red close throughout the match. He made one spectacular diving stop in the first half, then made back-to-back saves on a breakaway, first parrying the ball on a shot from six yards out and then smothering the shot on the rebound.

2008-09 AWARDWINNERS
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Sept. 8 — Craig Henderson (Dartmouth)
Sept. 15 — Bayo Adafin (Columbia)
Sept. 22 — Drew Healy (Penn)
Sept. 29 — Rhett Bernstein (Brown)

ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Sept. 8 — Lucky Mkosana (Dartmouth)
Sept. 15 — Lucky Mkosana (Dartmouth)
Sept. 22 — Jake Levin (Penn)
Sept. 29 — No selection