Marshall University Athletics
Photo by: Austin O Connor
Men’s Soccer Sweeps Conference USA Weekly Awards with Dolabella and Dossantos
11/2/2021 1:29:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Both earn second weekly award of season
DALLAS – After a great senior night at Hoops Family Field on Saturday, Marshall men's soccer swept the Conference USA weekly awards, the league office announced on Tuesday. Graduate student Pedro Dolabella was named Offensive Player of the Week and senior Nathan Dossantos earned Defensive Player of the Week.
It is the second weekly award this season for both players, with Dolabella's on Oct. 5 and Dossantos' on Oct. 12. Marshall, now ranked No. 1 in the United Soccer Coaches/NCAA poll, has had players earn a total of eight weekly honors from C-USA with four on offense and four on defense (see below for list). It is the first time that the Herd has swept the weekly awards since doing it three times in 2019 on Oct. 21 (Milo Yosef & Paulo Pita), Nov. 4 (Milo Yosef & Paulo Pita) and Nov. 11 (Jamil Roberts & Paulo Pita).
In the win over South Carolina, Dolabella scored two goals and had one assist while Dossantos led the defensive effort that resulted in the ninth clean sheet of the year for Marshall.
"Pedro is the most influential player in college this season," Herd head coach Chris Grassie said. "He sets out rhythm and brings the best out of his teammates around him. He and Milo (Yosef) have formed a very nice partnership up front in the last month of the season. Nate is a rock! He's had an amazing season again. I've said it before, but I believe that Nate has all the potential in the world to be able to play for his beloved Canadian National Team."
Dolabella's two goals tied his career-high originally set against Butler back on Sept. 29 that resulted in his first weekly honor of the year. He set a career-best for total points in a match with five. On a soggy night, Dolabella scored his first goal of the night in the 65th minute that gave the Herd a 2-0 lead. Then just two minutes later, he assisted on a goal scored by fellow senior night honoree Ibrahima Diop for a 3-0 advantage. Dolabella and Diop are old high school teammates from The Pennington School. Diop transferred to Marshall over the summer, and they are spending their final seasons in collegiate athletics together.
Dolabella was not done for the night as the team captain scored again in the 77th minute as the Herd kept up the pressure. The Brasilia, Brazil native leads the team and league this season in goals (10), goals per game (0.71), total points (26) and points per game (1.86). Dolabella was subbed out after 84 minutes of action and received a standing ovation from the Herd crowd.
Dossantos put together another magnificent performance in his final home match of the regular season. The Gamecocks came out on the attack looking to grab a win. However, Dossantos and the Marshall defense were up to the task as the Oakville, Ontario, Canada native led the Herd's defensive effort in the shutout. South Carolina managed only seven total shots with five on target while playing with a man advantage for just over 41 minutes of action. In fact, Marshall's defense held its opponent to just two shots and one on goal while playing a man down.
With the extremely slippery turf due to the rain, Dossantos managed to keep his feet to continue to cutoff and dispossess opposing attackers. He continued to help in the ball-control offense as well as Marshall won possession 53-percent to 47-percent. Dossantos was subbed out with under 12 minutes to go in the match, and a 4-0 lead, and received a standing ovation from the home crowd.
No. 1 Marshall wraps up the regular season on Friday at No. 19 FIU. The match will be for the number one seed, and the regular season championship, leading into the Conference USA Tournament. The Panthers currently hold the lead in the conference with 19 points. Marshall is second with 17. A Herd win earns Marshall the number one seed at the C-USA Tournament, Nov. 10-14. The top two seeds receive a first round bye. Both programs will be the top two seeds, no matter the outcome of Friday's contest.
Marshall's Weekly Honors 2021
Offensive – Vitor Dias Aug. 31
Defensive – Max Schneider Sept. 14
Defensive – Oliver Semmle Sept. 28
Offensive – Pedro Dolabella Oct. 5
Defensive – Nathan Dossantos Oct. 12
Offensive – Milo Yosef Oct. 26
Offensive – Pedro Dolabella Nov. 2
Defensive – Nathan Dossantos Nov. 2
For all of the latest information on the Marshall men's soccer team, follow the Herd on Twitter @HerdMSoccer, Facebook at Marshall University Soccer and on www.herdzone.com.
To follow all Thundering Herd sports and get live stats, schedules, and free live audio, download the Marshall Athletics App for iOS or Android!
It is the second weekly award this season for both players, with Dolabella's on Oct. 5 and Dossantos' on Oct. 12. Marshall, now ranked No. 1 in the United Soccer Coaches/NCAA poll, has had players earn a total of eight weekly honors from C-USA with four on offense and four on defense (see below for list). It is the first time that the Herd has swept the weekly awards since doing it three times in 2019 on Oct. 21 (Milo Yosef & Paulo Pita), Nov. 4 (Milo Yosef & Paulo Pita) and Nov. 11 (Jamil Roberts & Paulo Pita).
In the win over South Carolina, Dolabella scored two goals and had one assist while Dossantos led the defensive effort that resulted in the ninth clean sheet of the year for Marshall.
"Pedro is the most influential player in college this season," Herd head coach Chris Grassie said. "He sets out rhythm and brings the best out of his teammates around him. He and Milo (Yosef) have formed a very nice partnership up front in the last month of the season. Nate is a rock! He's had an amazing season again. I've said it before, but I believe that Nate has all the potential in the world to be able to play for his beloved Canadian National Team."
Dolabella's two goals tied his career-high originally set against Butler back on Sept. 29 that resulted in his first weekly honor of the year. He set a career-best for total points in a match with five. On a soggy night, Dolabella scored his first goal of the night in the 65th minute that gave the Herd a 2-0 lead. Then just two minutes later, he assisted on a goal scored by fellow senior night honoree Ibrahima Diop for a 3-0 advantage. Dolabella and Diop are old high school teammates from The Pennington School. Diop transferred to Marshall over the summer, and they are spending their final seasons in collegiate athletics together.
Dolabella was not done for the night as the team captain scored again in the 77th minute as the Herd kept up the pressure. The Brasilia, Brazil native leads the team and league this season in goals (10), goals per game (0.71), total points (26) and points per game (1.86). Dolabella was subbed out after 84 minutes of action and received a standing ovation from the Herd crowd.
Dossantos put together another magnificent performance in his final home match of the regular season. The Gamecocks came out on the attack looking to grab a win. However, Dossantos and the Marshall defense were up to the task as the Oakville, Ontario, Canada native led the Herd's defensive effort in the shutout. South Carolina managed only seven total shots with five on target while playing with a man advantage for just over 41 minutes of action. In fact, Marshall's defense held its opponent to just two shots and one on goal while playing a man down.
With the extremely slippery turf due to the rain, Dossantos managed to keep his feet to continue to cutoff and dispossess opposing attackers. He continued to help in the ball-control offense as well as Marshall won possession 53-percent to 47-percent. Dossantos was subbed out with under 12 minutes to go in the match, and a 4-0 lead, and received a standing ovation from the home crowd.
No. 1 Marshall wraps up the regular season on Friday at No. 19 FIU. The match will be for the number one seed, and the regular season championship, leading into the Conference USA Tournament. The Panthers currently hold the lead in the conference with 19 points. Marshall is second with 17. A Herd win earns Marshall the number one seed at the C-USA Tournament, Nov. 10-14. The top two seeds receive a first round bye. Both programs will be the top two seeds, no matter the outcome of Friday's contest.
Marshall's Weekly Honors 2021
Offensive – Vitor Dias Aug. 31
Defensive – Max Schneider Sept. 14
Defensive – Oliver Semmle Sept. 28
Offensive – Pedro Dolabella Oct. 5
Defensive – Nathan Dossantos Oct. 12
Offensive – Milo Yosef Oct. 26
Offensive – Pedro Dolabella Nov. 2
Defensive – Nathan Dossantos Nov. 2
For all of the latest information on the Marshall men's soccer team, follow the Herd on Twitter @HerdMSoccer, Facebook at Marshall University Soccer and on www.herdzone.com.
To follow all Thundering Herd sports and get live stats, schedules, and free live audio, download the Marshall Athletics App for iOS or Android!
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