DENVER – San Josè State's David Sweeney has been named the Western Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week for Oct. 4-10, earning the award for a second straight week.
The honor marks the fourth of Sweeney's career, setting a new school record for conference player of the week awards. Jorge Martinez (1997-2000) received two MPSF Player of the Week awards and one WAC Player of the Week honor throughout his prolific career.
Sweeney, a junior goalkeeper from Morgan Hill, Calif. (Sobrato HS), helped lead the Spartans to an unbeaten road trip at Utah Valley and California Baptist last week. The keeper spent all 200 minutes on the pitch, tallying the eighth shutout of his career in Thursday's win in Orem before earning the draw in goal on Saturday in Norco.
"David was a big part of an entire team that worked very hard this weekend," says head coach Simon Tobin. "That was an extremely tough road trip and a good week for our team as a whole."
Sweeney totaled eight saves while facing 30 shots on the week. No stop was more impressive than his save in the 47th minute against the Wolverines, where he went full extension into the far right post to stop a Utah Valley shot with his glove.
WHAT. A. SAVE. ??#NCAASoccer x ?? @SanJoseStateMS pic.twitter.com/sF1248mADm
— NCAA Soccer (@NCAASoccer) October 8, 2021
The keeper leads the WAC with 24 saves made in league play and also tops the conference in WAC shutouts (three).
This marks San Josè State's (and Sweeney's) second weekly honor from the conference office this season (and second in as many weeks). Sweeney is the first Spartan in 21 years to win conference player of the week awards in back-to-back weeks (Jorge Martinez - Sept. 18/Sept. 25, 2000).
SJSU is currently enjoying a four-match unbeaten streak and will return to action on Saturday night against No. 17 Grand Canyon. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. at Spartan Soccer Complex against the Lopes and tickets can be purchased here.
Other defensive nominees: Air Force's London Aghedo led the Falcons defense in a pair of wins, allowing three total goals in home wins over UT Rio Grande Valley and UIW … Grand Canyon's Alejandro Fernandez Alcaide anchored the GCU defense to a pair of home wins over UIW and UT Rio Grande Valley while also adding a pair of assists in Sunday's win over UTRGV.
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