Men's Soccer | 10/30/2023 2:40:00 PM
MELBOURNE, Fla.--Junior forward David Polanco and senior defender Iker Berruezo swept the Sunshine State Conference Men's Soccer Player of the Week awards for Oct. 30 after leading the Bucs to a pair of shutout wins to clinch the regular season championship for the second straight year and the top seed in the upcoming SSC Tournament.
Polanco seized Offensive Player of the Week with two game-winning goals, a hat-trick, and eight total points last week. The junior from Key Biscayne, Florida, scored early and often in Barry's 5-0 rout of Eckerd. His PK goal in the 16th minute proved to be the game-winner. The junior completed the hat-trick with scores in the 21st and 63rd minutes. At Florida Southern, Polanco knocked in a PK game-winner in the 81st minute. Polanco's hat-trick against Eckerd is the first for the Buccaneer program since 2021.
Berruezo was named Defensive Player of the Week for the second time in 2023 for his efforts in Barry's shutouts of Eckerd and Florida Southern. The Spaniard led Barry's defense during a 5-0 rout of Eckerd, limiting the Tritons to two shots on goal, and successfully defended three corner kicks in the shutout. The defender also scored in the 36th and 80th minutes of the match. In a 2-0 win at Florida Southern, the Berruezo-led defense held the Moccasins to one shot on goal and defended three corners.
The Buccaneers close the regular season on Thursday, Nov. 2 at home against Florida National, then await the winner of the 4/5 matchup in the SSC Tournament Semifinal on Thursday, Nov. 9 at home.
