For the first time in school history, a University of North Florida men’s soccer player has earned the Atlantic Sun Player of the Week honor with sophomore Akil DeFreitas acquiring the acclaim after helping the Ospreys open conference action with two consecutive wins.
DeFreitas, a Trinidad native, finished the weekend with three goals and an assist. He netted both goals in UNF’s 2-1 double-overtime win against East Tennessee State in the league opener. His game-winner set the tone for the weekend, sending the Ospreys to USC Upstate in search of their second-straight A-Sun win.
UNF took care of business in their next outing, slaying the Spartans, 3-0. DeFreitas scored the first goal of the match, which proved to be the game-winning goal. He also added an assist in the contest when he made a pass on a two-on-one breakaway to fellow sophomore Adam O’Neill.
DeFreitas leads the A-Sun with three goals and seven total points in conference play, while ranking tied for second with a host of others in assists (1). He also tops the shots taken list with 11.
Last season, DeFreitas and O’Neill led the UNF squad with seven goals each. This season, DeFreitas had scored only one goal before exploding onto the scene during the first weekend of A-Sun play.
“Playing at the forward position, scoring sometimes comes in streaks,” Bunch said. “Even when you have chances, it can be discouraging to sail a ball high or wide. Having a strong weekend will help us prepare for a long conference schedule ahead of us.”
The Ospreys will try for their longest winning streak of the season, which now stands at two, on Thursday, hosting Campbell at 7 p.m. A-Sun men’s soccer action continues at Hodges Stadium on Saturday when Mercer visits at 7 p.m.