Gilbert Named NSCAA College Player of the Week
October 6, 2015 | Men's Soccer
NSCAA College Player of the Week
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The honors continue to pile up for Boston University men's soccer junior goalkeeper Matt Gilbert following his back-to-back shutout performances, as he was named the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) College Player of the Week, the organization announced Tuesday afternoon.
With the announcement, the Madison, N.J., native becomes the first Patriot League men's soccer player to earn the national award since its inception in 2010.
Besides topping UMass Lowell, 1-0, in their first meeting since 1981, the Terriers with Gilbert's help became the first opponent to shut out American (1-0) this season and the first Patriot League team since 2013 to earn a shutout win at Reeves Field.
Gilbert started the week tallying three saves against a River Hawk squad that was sitting at No. 63 in the RPI rankings and had won four of its last five games. In the 75th minute after having two attempts saved in the first half, UML managed to get a through ball past a BU defender, forcing Gilbert to come out and stop a hard shot from the right side of the box.
He then recorded a season-high eight saves, one shy of his personal best, against American for his second clean sheet of the week on Saturday. Battling not only the Eagles but the rain and wind in Saturday's League contest, the 6-foot-4 keeper made a number of impressive saves, including a leaping stop in the 79th minute, for his first road shutout.
The reigning PL Goalkeeper of the Week increased his shutout total to four despite the Terriers being outshot, 37-17, in the two contests.
After watching 2014 PL Scholar-Athlete of the Year Nick Thomson helped lead BU to the PL regular season title last year, Gilbert has been impressive this season so far in his first action since 2013. He currently ranks 15th nationally in save percentage at .840 and 22nd in saves per game at 4.67.
Through nine games, he has helped BU earn a 6-2-1 record. In 2013 replacing an injured Thomson, he went 5-9-1 with six shutouts, 1.05 GAA and .807 save percentage
Currently sitting at No. 60 in the latest RPI rankings, the Terriers will next visit Colgate on Wednesday (Oct. 7) at 7 p.m.
