Junior forward Yannick Pilgrim received both national and conference recognition on Tuesday for his two-goal performance against then-No. 6 Duke on Oct. 6, as he was named to the Soccer America Men’s Team of the Week and named the Southern Conference Player of the Week.
“Yannick’s two goals against Duke were the catalyst for our big win,” said Davidson head coach Matt Spear. “His second goal in particular shows his growing confidence and electric abilities. Yannick got the ball just past midfield in a seemingly innocuous setting. He then turned, took on, and went past two quality – and perhaps surprised – Duke defenders before rocketing the shot off the far post in and in to the goal.”
The win over No. 6 Duke earned the Wildcats their first national ranking (No. 21) since 2005.
Pilgrim, a native of Arima, Trinidad & Tobago, ranks 16th in the nation with 18 points (7 goals, 4 assists) in 10 games. Pilgrim is second only to teammate Charlie Reiter in the league in points and goals. He has added four assists on the season and is tied for the league lead with three game-winning goals.
“The most exciting part of Yannick’s game is that his potential remains at a higher level for many more goals and larger impact on this program,” said Spear. “As his confidence, timing, strength, and appetite for more growth all continue to develop, he will be one of the best forwards in the conference, and perhaps beyond.”
Pilgrim is the second Wildcat to be recognized by Soccer America this season, and the third consecutive SoCon Player of the Week honoree from Davidson.
Junior MF Alex Caskey (Dunwoody, Ga.) earned the same two weekly honors after a five-point performance in a 4-1 win over No. 25 South Carolina (Sept. 25). Reiter was announced as the weekly SoCon honoree last Tuesday after sparking a comeback win over conference foe College of Charleston.
No. 21 Davidson will next host conference foe Appalachian State on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. in Alumni Stadium.
Soccer America Men's Team of the Week – Oct. 13, 2009
GOALKEEPER
Alex Riggs (Missouri State), Jr.
DEFENDERS
Phil Edginton (Louisville), Sr.
Tim Ream (Saint Louis), Sr.
Bobby Warshaw (Stanford), Jr.
MIDFIELDERS
Irving Garcia (UC Irvine), Sr.
Marco Mangione (Towson), Jr.
FORWARDS
Chris Banks (New Hampshire), Sr.
Ronnie Bouemboue (N.C. State), Sr.
Boris Gatzky (Butler), Sr.
Yannick Pilgrim (Davidson), Jr.
Steffen Vroom (DePaul), Sr.
SoCon Player of the Week
Sept. 8 – John Bello, College of Charleston
Sept. 15 – Francis Twohig, College of Charleston
Sept. 22 – Chris Thomas, Elon
Sept. 29 – Alex Caskey, Davidson
Oct. 6 – Charlie Reiter, Davidson
Oct. 13 – Yannick Pilgrim, Davidson