Sept. 8, 2015
Denver, Colo. - Rory Knibbs, who scored three goals against Sacramento State last week, has been named the Western Athletic Conference's Player of the Week for the week of August 31.
Knibbs, a junior striker, recorded the second hat trick of his collegiate career in leading the Spartans from a 0-2 deficit to a 4-2 victory in the team's home opener on September 4.
Knibbs trifecta came in just over a seven and a half minute span of the first half with the first two tallies, a pair of headers, being goals of opportunity.
Off a corner kick at the 25:27 mark, a teammate rose up and headed the ball into the crossbar. It ricocheted down to Knibbs who drove it home to cut the Sacramento State lead in half.
Less than six minutes later a deflection off the Hornets keeper provided Knibbs with his second goal. He was crashing the goal and headed the rebound in to tie the score at 2-2 in the 32nd minute.
A minute and a half later, at the 33:05 mark, Knibbs was dragged down in the box and awarded a penalty kick. The keeper dove to his left as Knibbs tucked the ball into the lower right corner of the goal for his third score in seven minutes and 38 seconds.
This is Knibbs' first WAC Player of the Week honor this year and the second of his San José State career.