Oct. 29, 2012

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Rhode Island’s Matt Ribbens was named the Atlantic 10 Conference Men’s Soccer Player of the Week, while Temple’s Jared Martinelli collected his fourth Rookie of the Week citation, the league office announced on Monday. The duo was honored for games played during the week of Oct. 22-28.

Ribbens paced Rhode Island to a perfect 2-0 weekend, as the Tinley Park, Ill., native had a hand in all five of the Rams’ goals against Duquesne and St. Bonaventure. Against the Dukes on Friday (Oct. 26), Ribbens set up the game-winning goal in the 88th minute, helping URI to the late 1-0 victory. He went on to post seven points off a hat trick and an assist against the Bonnies on Sunday (Oct. 28), en route to Rhody’s 4-1 triumph. Ribbens’ hat trick marked the first for a Ram since the 2006 season. For his efforts, he was also named to the College Soccer News National Team of the Week.

Martinelli led Temple to an unbeaten weekend (2-0), including a pair of shutouts over Fordham (2-0) and La Salle (3-0). The Mechanicsburg, Pa., native registered five points off two game-winning tallies, while tacking on an assist against the Explorers. Martinelli’s 28 points currently ties him for eighth in program history for points in a single season, while his nine goals are the most by an Owl since 2003.

2012 A-10 MEN'S SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP
The newly expanded eight-team A-10 Men's Soccer Championship will be held Nov. 8-11 at Charlotte's Transamerica Field. The 49ers will host the Championship for the second time in three years and third time overall since joining the Atlantic 10 during the 2005-06 academic year.