IRVINE, Calif. — UC Davis' Rafael Matiello earned his first pair of Big West awards, being named Offensive and Freshman Player of the Week, the league announced Monday. With these honors, Matiello becomes the first Aggie ever to win both the Freshman and Offensive Player of the Week awards in the same week.
 
Matiello, the freshman midfielder from São Paulo, Brazil, was instrumental in the Aggies' first win of Big West play, recording a brace in UC Davis' 2-1 victory over Cal State Fullerton, snapping the Titans' 10-match unbeaten streak.
 
Matiello opened the scoring in the 32nd minute, finishing a diving header off a Chase Tanon corner kick to give UC Davis a 1-0 lead. He then netted a decisive second goal in the 58th minute, converting a penalty kick drawn by Keegan Walwyn-Bent on a breakaway.
 
With his brace, Matiello became the 17th player this season to score multiple goals in a single game and the 14th to record a brace. He is also the second Aggie to achieve this feat this season, joining Walwyn-Bent, who recorded a brace earlier and was recognized as the Big West Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 2.
 
Adding two goals to bring his season tally to three, Matiello now ranks third among all Aggies in goals scored.
 
Matiello and the Aggies will look to carry this momentum into their road match against conference leaders UC Santa Barbara on Wednesday, Oct. 16, at 7 p.m. PT.