BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. – Urbana University’s Thibaut Bourrier has been named the Mountain East Conference Offensive Player of the Week in men’s soccer.
Bourrier, a junior from Le Cres, France, had seven points in two UU wins last week. He opened the week with an assist against Wheeling Jesuit, and then registered a hat trick in UUs win over Shepherd.
UU tops Shepherd
Five Blue Knights scored during No. 17 UU’s 7-0 win over Shepherd in the final regular season game. UU tied its season-high goal count as Thibaut Bourrier became the second Blue Knight to register a hat trick.
With the win, UU closes out the year in second place of the Mountain East Conference standings, just one point behind Charleston, at 12-3-1 overall and 9-3 in league play. The Blue Knights tied the school record with nine shutouts while outscoring opponents 43-13 during the regular season.
Ebenezer Agyeman got the scoring started with his first goal of the season. He knocked a rebound through 10 minutes into the game from 20 yards out. A few minutes later, Bourrier scored his first of three goals while Raphael Northoff added another goal before halftime off an assist from Jordan Coxall.
Bourrier overtook Northoff for the team lead in goals scored with two more in the second half to give him nine on the year. Northoff assisted on Bourrier’s second goal and also has eight goals heading to the postseason.
Jim Roberti found the back of the net in the 58th minute and a minute later Bourrier stole the spotlight with his third goal (Jasminko Dizdarevic assist). Lars Blenckers completed the scoring with his fifth goal in six games which came off a nice assist by Lewis Dunne and Roberti.
Goalkeeper Nathan Jones set the single-season shutouts record with his seventh clean sheet this season. Jones is already the program’s career leader in shutouts and ranks fifth among active Division II leaders.
UU will be the second seed in this week’s MEC Championship. UU hosts third-seeded Notre Dame at UU Stadium on Thursday at 3:30 p.m. The Falcons defeated UU in the same scenario last season, as the winner moves on to play in the championship match on Sunday, Nov. 6.
