NO. ATTLEBORO, Mass. – Graduate student
Alvaro Garcia (Castelldefels, Spain) of the 14th-ranked Southern New Hampshire University men's soccer team was selected as the NE10 Goalkeeper of the Week and junior
Eduardo Maia (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) earned Defensive Player of the Week honors, both for the period ending Oct. 26, the league office announced Monday.
Garcia stopped both shots he faced during a 2-0-0 week for the Penmen, as he recorded a pair of clean sheets. Garcia was not forced to make a save in Wednesday's 1-0 win at Saint Anselm College and then stopped the two shots that came his way – including one with 40 seconds remaining from the edge of the 6-yard box – in Saturday's 1-0 triumph over No. 22 Franklin Pierce University to snap the Ravens' 66-match home unbeaten streak that dated back to 2018.
Maia led that defensive effort from the back line, as the Penmen limited their opponents to just two shots on target. SNHU outshot Saint Anselm, 15-7, including 4-0 in shots on goal, and then doubled up FPU in shots on target, 4-2. The Penmen defense, along with Garcia, have not allowed a goal over the last 226:30.
Garcia has started all 14 matches in net, going 11-1-2 with five shutouts, a 0.89 goals-against average and .714 save percentage, as he has stopped 30 of the 42 shots that have come his way over 1215:00. He ranks third in the NE10 in shutouts, fourth in GAA and seventh in save percentage.
Maia has started all 14 contests for a stout SNHU defensive unit that ranks third in the league in goals against (12) and GAA (0.86). The numbers are even more impressive in conference play, with the Penmen placing second in both categories (6 GA, 0.75 GAA).
Garcia, Maia and the Penmen (11-1-2, 6-1-1 NE10 return to action Saturday, Nov. 1 (12 p.m.) when they travel to take on Wilmington (Del.) University.
