CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- Vermont and Boston University each earned important wins in America East men's soccer action over the weekend and two players who led the way are this week's conference award winners. The honorees for the week ending October 7 were announced Monday morning.
The Catamounts' Joe Losier scored the game-tying goal and set up the game winner in his team's win over Hartford Saturday to earn Player of the Week honors, while Carlos Ruiz scored in the Terriers' victory at Stony Brook Friday to garner Rookie of the Week accolades.
Losier (Glastonbury, Conn.) tallied a league-high five points last week as he scored twice and added an assist en route to earning Player of the Week recognition for the second time in his career. The senior forward played a crucial role in Saturday's 3-2 win over Hartford, which kept UVM in first place in the America East standings at 2-0-0 along with Binghamton. With his team trailing 2-1 in the second half, Losier tied the game in the 67th minute by one-time a flick from teammate D.J. Edler into the bottom right-hand corner of the net. He then set up Zach Paul's game winner just 26 seconds later. Losier, who ranks sixth among conference leaders with 12 points, also scored in Vermont's 3-1 loss to Dartmouth on Wednesday and has found the back of the net in each of his last five games.
Ruiz (Boston, Mass.) helped Boston U. snap Stony Brook's six-game unbeaten streak and earned Rookie of the Week honors as a result. With his team trailing 1-0 and time winding down, Ruiz scored his first career goal to tie the game 1-1 in the 78th minute and force overtime. The Terriers went on to win the game, 2-1. Ruiz, who made 10 appearances including seven starts for the Terriers as a true freshman, converted a turnover into a score as his shot just got inside the far post.
In the other two conference contests over the weekend, Binghamton improved to 2-0-0 with a 1-0 win at Albany while New Hampshire and UMBC played to a 1-1 double-overtime tie.
Conference play continues on Wednesday with four more games. Albany hosts UMBC, Binghamton welcomes Stony Brook, Boston U. entertains Vermont and New Hampshire visits Hartford.
2012 America East Men's Soccer Weekly Award Winners
Aug. 27 - Player of the Week: Scott Kisling (Vermont); Rookie of the Week: Alejandro Fritz (Stony Brook)
Sept. 4 - Player of the Week: Pete Caringi III (UMBC); Rookie of the Week: Anthony Rozzano (Albany)
Sept. 10 - Co-Players of the Week: Travis Worra (New Hampshire), Conor Leland (Vermont); Rookie of the Week: Javoni Simms (Hartford)
Sept. 17 - Player of the Week: Leonardo Fernandes (Stony Brook); Rookie of the Week: Javoni Simms (Hartford)
Sept. 24 - Player of the Week: Milo Kapor (UMBC); Rookie of the Week: Martin Giordano (Stony Brook)
Oct. 1 - Player of the Week: Jake Keegan (Binghamton); Rookie of the Week: Viltsu Tuumi (Hartford)
Oct. 8 - Player of the Week: Joe Losier (Vermont); Rookie of the Week: Carlos Ruiz (Boston U.)