MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (October 6, 2008) – West Virginia University men's soccer player freshman Alex Silva was named BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week, conference officials announced today.

 

            The first Mountaineer to earn a conference award this season, a Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, native, tallied his first career goal, also the game-winner, in WVU's upset victory at then-No. 7/4 Connecticut on Oct. 3.

 

            The play started with sophomore goalkeeper Zach Johnson punting a long ball down the left side of the field to sophomore Paul Paradise. After two UConn defenders collapsed on the Plum, Pa., native, he laid a pass off to Silva, who was charging in from the top of the 18-yard box, and the blasted it to the right corner of the net for the score. Paradise was credited with an assist.

 

            Silva leads all WVU freshmen in shots (13), points (3), and is tied for second on the team in shots on-goal (4).