By: Cody Bush, Associate Commissioner / Strategic Communications
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs and Fort Lewis College each enjoyed 2-0 homestands last week and saw their student-athletes take home the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference’s Week 2 awards on Tuesday.
UCCS forward Dani Barajas had a golden boot last week, with each of his three shots on goal, finding the net in wins against UT Tyler and Dallas Baptist. Fort Lewis defender Kaden Schufft and goalkeeper Lucas Martin led a defensive unit that kept St. Mary’s (Texas) and West Texas A&M off the scoreboard.
The league’s 11 men’s soccer teams wrap up nonconference play this weekend before opening the RMAC regular-season race on Sept. 25 and 26, with South Dakota Mines traveling to Colorado Christian for the Wed., Sept. 25 RMAC opener.
Offensive Player of the Week
Dani Barajas, University of Colorado Colorado Springs (Sr., F, Edwards, Colorado)
Barajas’ three-goal week paced UCCS to wins against UT Tyler (2-1) and Dallas Baptist (3-1), improving the Mountain Lions to 3-0-1. He opened the week with a goal in the 10th minute, giving UCCS an early 1-0 advantage against UT Tyler. Barajas scored two goals against Dallas Baptist, scoring in the 24th and 33rd minutes to propel UCCS to a 2-0 first-half lead.
Honorable Mention: Caio Oliveira, CSU Pueblo; Manuel Ponce Casas, Colorado Mesa; Gabe Rodriguez, Colorado School of Mines; Tomas Duenes, Fort Lewis; Brendan O’Toole, MSU Denver; Johan Murillo, Regis; Jack Cardwell, Westminster University.
Defensive Player of the Week
Kaden Schufft, Fort Lewis (Jr., D, Rio Rancho, New Mexico)
Schufft led a Fort Lewis defense that held St. Mary’s (Texas) and West Texas A&M scoreless in back-to-back 1-0 Skyhawks victories. He played 90 minutes in the St. Mary’s shutout, with Fort Lewis’ defense allowing only five shots on goal. Schufft registered another 89 minutes against West Texas A&M, with the defense surrendering five shots on goal again. In the two matches, Fort Lewis turned away 14 total corner kicks.
Honorable Mention: Dylan Zavatini, CSU Pueblo; Diogo Silva, Colorado Mesa; Jackson Vander Ven, MSU Denver; Adin Schwenke, UCCS; Ben Siu, Westminster University.
Goalkeeper of the Week
Lucas Martin, Fort Lewis (So., GK, Middlesbrough, England)
Martin earned back-to-back clean sheets for the second time in his career, turning away 10 shots on goal in two victories. Against St. Mary’s, he made five saves while facing 16 shots and six corner kicks. Martin notched another five saves against West Texas A&M while facing 13 shots and eight corners. He has had three shutouts in the Skyhawks' first four matches this season and is tied for the Division II lead in shutouts.
Honorable Mention: Diego Chavez, Colorado Mesa; Caden Allaire, Colorado School of Mines; Nick McNeil, MSU Denver; Greg Squire, Regis; Soren Russell, University of Colorado Colorado Springs; Roark Looney, Westminster University.
About the RMAC
The RMAC is a premier NCAA Division II conference located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, with 15 member schools. The RMAC sponsors 22 varsity NCAA sports and has produced 65 NCAA Division II national champions and 52 national runners-up since 1992.
#EverythingElevated