Irvine, CA—The Big West announced today that UC Riverside goalkeeper Vincent Morales (Bellflower, CA) (Bellflower, CA) is the conference Defensive Player of the Week for matches played from September 12-18. It is the second player of the week honor for Morales this season and the third of his career.

(View all-time list of UC Riverside Men's Soccer Player of the Week honorees.)

The redshirt junior helped his Highlanders to a 2-0-0 week, posting a 0.50 goals against average in victories over San Diego and No. 20 Gonzaga.
 
Morales recorded his second shutout of the season in a 2-0 triumph over the Toreros, giving the Highlanders their first win over the fellow southern California program in UCR's 16-year Division I history. He made four saves in the win.
 
He then limited the nationally-ranked Bulldogs to just one goal in the 2-1 victory. Morales stopped three shots, as UCR clinched at least one win over a top-25 opponent for the fourth straight season.
 
Morales is tied for the Big West lead in saves (29) and save percentage (.744).

The Highlanders hit the road this weekend for matches at San Jose State on Friday, September 23 at 7 pm PT, and San Francisco on Sunday, September 25 at 4 pm.