BRADFORD, Pa. – Junior midfielder Ryuta Hayakawa of the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford men's soccer team has been named the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference Offensive Player of the Week for the period from Sept. 11-17, conference officials announced Monday.
"He's had two big games for us, coming up with some key goals," Head Coach Nate Whitehurst said. "He's had his chances in other games, and he was able to finish in these games, and really help the team out. He's got a great work rate in the middle, and he helps us a lot in possession, moving the ball from side-to-side."
The Kyoto, Japan, native put up staggering offensive numbers while twice coming through in the clutch for Pitt-Bradford in the two games in front of his home crowd this week.
On Wednesday against Alfred State, he scored a pair of goals, one of which coming on a penalty kick in the final 10 minutes of the game to give the Panthers a late 3-2 lead. UPB went on to work a draw in the contest.
Again on Saturday, Hayakawa scored in the final 10 minutes, but this time, his goal stood as the game-winner. With the contest tied a 2-2 after the Panthers battled from being down 2-0, Hayakawa received a through ball with three minutes to go in regulation, and with one touch, he sent the ball low past the charging keeper to give the Panthers a late 3-2 lead, and eventually, give them their first victory of the season.
He also put all five of his total shots this week on goal.
The Panthers will be in action next as they head to Alfred on Wednesday before coming back to the Kessel Athletics Complex on Saturday.
