12 Oct 2022 UCA sophomore wins ASUN Defensive Player of the Week

ATLANTA, Ga. — After a successful week that saw the men’s soccer team go undefeated, sophomore defender Richy Lapointe-Guevara has been named the ASUN Defensive Player of the Week. 

Lapointe-Guevara put up astonishing numbers off the back line, helping the Bears to a draw against Oral Roberts on Tuesday before being a big part of the comeback win over Queens on Saturday. Playing 90 minutes against the Golden Eagles, the sophomore was instrumental in erasing a two-goal lead, eventually scoring the equalizer in the 77th minute to allow Central Arkansas to play to a draw.

Against the Royals on Saturday, the stakes were even higher for the Bears, who found themselves down 3-1 past the 80th minute. After Pietro Fontana scored to cut the lead to one, Lapointe-Guevara finished the equalizer in the 86th minute, setting the stage for the game-winner a couple of minutes later. The win over Queens kept the Bears on track to keep a top-two seed in the ASUN, which would allow the team to play host during the ASUN Championship later this month.

Tuesday’s award marked the first for Lapointe-Guevara, who has been a staple of the Bears this year, leading the team with four goals and ranking third in minutes played, with 866. Lapointe-Guevara is the second Bear to win a weekly award this season, after Bradyn Knutson picked up a Defensive Player of the Week nod back in September.

The Bears continue to wind down the regular season, with four games left on the schedule. This weekend, Central Arkansas will face Florida Gulf Coast on Saturday, that match starting at 7 p.m. at the Bill Stephens Track and Soccer Complex.

ASUN Weekly Award Winners:

Sept. 20 – Bradyn Knutson – Defensive Player of the Week

Oct. 11 – Richy Lapointe-Guevara – Defensive Player of the Week