TROY, N.Y. – The Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) has announced its monthly award winners from men's and women's soccer and three Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) student-athletes have been recognized.
Josh Gaudiano and
Luke Brezak were named Player and Goalkeeper of the Month from men's side, while Sierra Skelding earned Rookie of the Month honors from the women's side.
A junior winger from Manhattan Beach, Calif., Gaudiano lead the Engineers in goals (4), points (9), shots (21), shots on goal (12) and game-winning goals (2) in September. Leading the Engineers to 6-1-1 record, including 2-0 start to conference season, was named Liberty League Performer of the Week once. RPI finished September on a six-game winning streak.
Gaudiano has started all 10 games for the Engineers this season, scoring a team-high six goals and assisting on another for 13 points. Also the team-leader in shots with 36, including 19 on goal, the former Mira Costa High School standout has three game-winning tallies and is 1 for 2 from the penalty spot.
A senior out of Camano Island, Wash., Brezak paced RPI in all goalkeeping categories during September, as the starter in all eight matches. The Overlake School graduate went 6-1-1 with a 0.78 goals against average and a .793 save percentage, while posting four consecutive shutouts and going 360:25 minutes without allowing a goal.
On the season, Brezak is 7-1-2, with a 0.70 goals against average and an .829 save percentage. He has made 34 saves in 895 minutes, with six clean sheets.
A freshman from Cary, N.C., Skelding started seven of RPI's eight games in September, going 3-1-3 with a 0.72 goals against average and an .884 save percentage. She helped the Engineers put together a six-game game unbeaten streak, including two shutouts and one combined shutout.
Skelding has started eight games for RPI this season, going 3-2-3 with a 1.20 goals against average and an .824 save percentage. The former Panther Creek standout has totaled 42 saves in 673:26 minutes, with two shutouts, one combined shutout.
The men's team, which is ranked 25th in the country, returns to action tomorrow evening, when it hosts area-rival Union College at East Campus Stadium (6pm). The Engineers women's team travels to Union on Saturday afternoon (2pm).
