NIAGARA UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
EDISON, N.J. — Niagara sophomore forward Luca Pacheco was named the Men’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week by the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), announced on Monday. Pacheco totaled six points (2 G, 2 A) in games at Rider and against Monmouth.
On Wednesday, Pacheco struck early to give the Purple Eagles the lead in the 12th minute over the Broncs. It was his team-leading third goal of the season to that point.
On Saturday night, Pacheco assisted on Bautista Pedezert’s game-winner in the 36th minute against the Hawks. Pedezert and Pacheco worked a beautiful give-and-go with Pacheco’s quick tap opening space for Pedezert to rifle a shot into the upper right corner from distance. In the 55th minute, Pedezert threaded a set piece in to Pacheco in the middle of the box, allowing Pacheco to scissor kick it into the lower left corner for a 3-1 lead. Pacheco’s fifth point of the evening came in the 86th minute, when he led Dylan Avila with a long pass that Avila snuck past the keeper to put the finishing touches on Niagara’s 5-1 victory.
Pacheco leads the team in goals (4), points (10), shots (17) and is tied for the lead in assists (2) and game-winning goals.
The 5-1 win over Monmouth was the team’s largest margin of victory since 2016, when the Purple Eagles topped Robert Morris, 4-0. The five goals was the most by the team in a single game since at least 2012.
This is Pacheco’s second career MAAC weekly award. He earned Rookie of the Week honors after scoring the first two goals of his collegiate career in a 2-0 win over Saint Peter’s last season.
Pacheco and the Purple Eagles return to Niagara Field on Wednesday, Oct. 10. The Battle of the Bridge will commence with the first head-to-head contest of the 2018-19 season when Canisius comes to Monteagle Ridge for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
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