September 2, 2025

Sam Brocato Named SCAC Men’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week

SAM BROCATO OF CENTENARY COLLEGE, a senior goalkeeper from Leesville, La., has been named the SCAC Men’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week for games played through Monday, September 1st.

SAM BROCATO OF CENTENARY COLLEGE, a senior goalkeeper from Leesville, La., has been named the SCAC Men's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week for games played through Monday, September 1st. SCAC Men's Soccer Release (Week 1)

Brocato pitched a pair of shutouts on opening weekend for the Gents, the second and third of his career, in a 9-0 win over Texas College on Friday in the season opener and followed with his second in Monday's scoreless draw against the Dallas Christian College Crusaders. Brocato, who went the distance in both matches, finished with seven saves on Monday, a season-best total and one shy of his career high, after tallying four on Friday against the Steers to finish the weekend with 11 total saves. Brocato earned the weekly award for the first time in his career.

Other outstanding performances in the SCAC:
First-year defender Anthony Ortiz of McMurry anchored a War Hawks backline in his collegiate debut lifting the team to a 1-1-0 start, highlighted by a win over Arlington Baptist last Friday. Ortiz and the War Hawks limited opponents to just seven shots on target and 10 total corners in two contests. Sophomore defender Lyatonga Filos of Ozarks lifted the Eagles to a 1-1-0 mark in the opening weekend, including a 2-1 win over Howard Payen to open 2025 on Friday night. Filos and the Eagles limited opponents to just nine shots on target and he made an impact offensively with an assist in the win over Howard Payne. First-year goalkeeper Ernesto Avila of Texas Lutheran posted a shutout in his collegiate debut to lift the Bulldogs to a season opening 2-0 win over Hardin Simmons. Avila played all 180 minutes in the opening two fixtures for TLU, recording eight total saves.