Omar Gonzalez Earns ECC Men's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week

CENTRAL ISLIP, NY - Omar Gonzalez, graduate student goalkeeper for the University of the District of Columbia men's soccer team, was named East Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Week for his superb performance in the Shippensburg Tournament this past weekend.

Gonzalez (Reston, VA - South Lakes HS) notched two shutouts in a 1-0-1 season-opening weekend for the Firebirds. He made nine saves and allowed zero goals in 200 minutes of action. Gonzalez is the first Firebird to earn a weekly honor from the ECC as this is District of Columbia's inaugural season as members of the conference.

Adriel Garcia (Sau Paulo, Brazil - Anglo Campinas) was also named to the ECC Week One Honor Roll. The senior forward had a foot in all four Firebird goals in District of Columbia's 4-0 victory over Pitt-Johnstown on Aug. 31. He scored two and assisted two others to lead the Firebirds to the decisive season-opening victory.

District of Columbia (1-0-1), who was declared the Shippensburg Tournament champions based on goal disparity, will host two home matches on Wednesday and Friday. The Firebirds play Shippensburg on Wednesday at 4 p.m. and Mercyhurst on Friday at 4 p.m.

* - In other ECC weekly reports, University of the District of Columbia senior volleyball player Vanessa Garley (Rio Rancho, NM - Rio Rancho HS) was named to the Week One Honor Roll. Garley recorded 26 kills (2.89 kills per set), seven service aces, eight digs and seven blocks in a 2-1 weekend for District of Columbia as it hosted the Firebird Volleyball Classic.