Oct. 13, 2008

DAVIS, Calif. - For the second time this season, UC Davis senior forward Quincy Amarikwa has earned Big West Conference Player of the Week honors, and for the first time in school history Amarikwa has been named College Soccer News and Soccer America National Player of the Week. The announcements came Monday morning. Amarikwa also becomes the second Aggie to earn two conference player of the week honors and first to earn the honors in the same season.

Amarikwa accounted for all three Aggie goals, two of which were game winners, to lead his team to a 2-0 showing last week. He scored the lone goal in the Aggies' 1-0 shutout at Cal State Fullerton on Wednesday off a free kick. He then led an Aggie charge against then-No. 15 UC Santa Barbara on Saturday night with two more goals in a 2-0 shutout victory. It marked the first time in 31 games the Gauchos had been shut out and the largest Aggie margin of victory since the series began in 2004. Amarikwa's second goal against the Gauchos was one for the highlight reels as he converted a bicycle kick in front of 4,007 fans at Harder Stadium.

UC Davis has now had four conference player of the week honorees and have now earned back-to-back honors as junior Paul Marcoux earned the distinction last week. In all, Amarikwa has been honored nationally three times this season and joins fellow senior Dylan Curtis and Marcoux as Aggies who have earned weekly conference honors. Amarikwa teamed with senior Ahmad Hatifie to earn national honors two weeks ago.

With the 2-0 showing last week, UC Davis improved to 11-1-1 overall and 3-0-1 in conference to earn its highest-ever national ranking at No. 7 in the Soccer America poll. The Aggies also took over the top spot in the National Soccer Coaches Association (NSCAA) Far West rankings.

The Aggies return home on Wednesday to host Cal State Fullerton at 3 p.m.