September 22, 2008

DOS SANTOS NAMED CAA PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Veteran midfielder scores two goals, tallies two assists in two road wins

RICHMOND, Va. – Coming into the 2008 campaign, the Virginia Commonwealth University men’s soccer team knew that if it were to be successful, senior Gerson Dos Santos (Sao Paulo, Brazil) would play a big role. Dos Santos is proving that as his two-goal, two-assist week not only helped his squad to two road wins but also earned him CAA Player of the Week honors.

It marks the second straight week a VCU player has taken home the honor as senior goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra (Woodbridge, Va.) was named CAA Co-Player of the Week last week.

The veteran midfielder has led the Rams to three straight wins, including wins at Richmond and Coastal Carolina this past week.

In the Black and Gold’s 1-0 victory over the Spiders, Dos Santos lofted an incredible free kick from just along the goal line into the middle of the box where junior Michael Denkewitz (Bremen, Germany) was able to head it into the back of the net for the decisive goal.

Sunday’s 4-0 pounding of Coastal Carolina was the Dos Santos show as he scored the first two goals of the day for the Rams and followed it up by assisting on junior Jake Van Yahres’ (Charlottesville, Va.) goal early in the second half that put the game out of reach.

Dos Santos has now had a hand in six of VCU’s past eight goals dating back to the Rams thrilling 3-1 victory over Virginia on September 13th.

On the season, he leads the squad with 10 points and is tied for the team lead in goals with three and assists with four. Over his three-year career, he has tallied 10 goals and seven assists while donning the Black and Gold.

Dos Santos and the Rams are back in action this Saturday as they open up their 2008 CAA schedule with a trip north to take on the Patriots of George Mason University in a 7 p.m. contest.