Ancin, Koffeman Take Home BIG EAST Weekly Soccer Honors
Oct 11 | Men's Soccer
PISCATAWAY, NJ - Rutgers sophomores Lubos Ancin (Burlington, NJ) and Bart Koffeman (The Hague, Holland) were each honored by the BIG EAST Conference on Monday. Ancin was named the BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Week, while Koffeman took home league Defensive Player of the Week honors.
'We had a great week with shutouts against two top-15 teams,' said Rutgers head coach Bob Reasso. 'Lubos made some nice stops and Bart was a key contributor to our strong defensive unit. I think this is a fitting honor for both of these individuals.'
The award marks Ancin's second honor of the week as the Scarlet Knights' goalkeeper was also named to the College Soccer News National Team of the Week on Monday. He was recognized as the nation's top goalkeeper for the week ending Oct. 10. The keeper earned his fifth and sixth shutouts of the season last week, holding No. 13 St. John's and No. 12 Boston College without a goal in 209:04 of action.
He made several diving saves against St. John's last Wednesday night, finishing with four total saves in the match. He helped Rutgers hand the Red Storm their lone tie in league competition this season. Against Boston College last Saturday night, he stopped one of the BIG EAST's leading scorers, Charlie Davies of Boston College, from point-blank range late in regulation to help preserve the shutout. The stop eventual led to Scott Gahagan's (Old Bridge, NJ) game-winning goal in overtime.
Ancin is tied for second in the BIG EAST in shutouts (6) and ranks third in the league in goals-against-average (0.51). He has surrendered just two goals in his last five matches and given up multiple goals in just one match this season - a 2-1 overtime loss to No. 18 Hartwick.
Koffeman anchored a Rutgers defense that did not surrender a goal against two strong opponents last week. Against St. John's, he prevented SJU's Simone Salinno, the Preseason BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year, from getting a shot off on a breakaway attempt. Against Boston College, he guided a defensive third that allowed just three shots the entire contest and only one shot-on-goal. Koffeman and the Scarlet Knights held the Eagles without a shot in the first half.
The BIG EAST honor is the first league award for both individuals.
Rutgers (5-4-3, 2-1-2) continues its BIG EAST slate when it hosts Georgetown on Wednesday at Yurcak Field at 7 p.m.
