Texas Lutheran keeper Noel Pena named SCAC Defensive Player of the Week
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. -- Texas Lutheran's Noel Pena, a freshman goalkeeper from Houston (Cy-Falls), has been named the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Men's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week for games played through Sunday, March 21.
In his first collegiate action for the Bulldogs, Pena registered six saves in a scoreless first half as the Bulldogs won 4-0 over Austin College.
Pena played the first 45 minutes of the match and picked up the win in goal.
The six saves by Pena were the most in any single game last week and were the most by any goalie this season in the SCAC in a winning effort.
The Bulldogs (2-2 overall, 2-2 SCAC) head to Kerrville, Texas on Saturday for a 2:30 p.m. conference road match with Schreiner University.
Other outstanding performances in the SCAC:
Junior goalkeeper Keleher Felton of Colorado College was credited with five saves in the Tiger's 1-1 draw against Southwestern on the road last weekend. Sophomore goalkeeper Goncalo Pernas of Dallas grabbed five saves in a tight 1-0 loss to Trinity last Friday. Senior defender Garrison Van Houten of Southwestern anchored a Pirates defense that allowed just one goal last weekend in a 1-1 tie against Colorado College. Van Houten also chipped in offensively with an assist on the tying goal with just three minutes remaining in regulation. Freshman goalkeeper Rodrigo Lazo of St. Thomas combined to make five saves in his two shutout victories last week for the Celts. Junior goalkeeper Juan Carlos Vidales of Trinity secured a pair of wins in goal for the Tiger men's soccer team this weekend, defeating both Dallas and Austin College in SCAC action on the road. Vidales allowed just one goal over 180 minutes in net, recording three saves in the two wins. Vidales also posted a shutout in the team's season-opening 1-0 win over Dallas on Friday.
SCAC Men's Soccer
Defensive Players-of-the-Week
Week 1 Alexander Ward, Colorado College
Week 2 Tom Hultsch, University of St. Thomas
Week 3 Alexander Ward, Colorado College
Week 4Noel Pena, Texas Lutheran University