Superior Telegram
University of Wisconsin-Superior’s Gio Rodriguez was named the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference’s men’s soccer offensive athlete of the week.
Rodriguez, a sophomore from (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. who currently leads the Yellowjackets in both goals and points, was instrumental in the Yellowjackets picking up a pair of victories at the Concordia College Cobber Invite in Moorhead, Minn.
On Friday against the hosts from Concordia, Rodriguez dented the twine from the top of the box, giving the Yellowjackets a 1-0 lead in a match they would eventually win 3-1. The next day against Simpson College, Rodriguez closed out the scoring.
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After each team scored twice in the first half, Rodriguez scored the eventual game-winning goal from the top of the box less than five minutes into the second half to help propel the Yellowjackets to their third straight victory, 3-2 over the Storm.
For his effort, Rodriguez was also one of five Yellowjackets named to the Cobber Invite All-Tournament Team.
“Gio is in a really good place with his game right now,” UWS coach Joe Mooney said. “He’s finding openings in the opposing defense and when he’s getting his opportunities he’s taking advantage of them,.
“He has really stepped up his play from a year ago and right now he has to be one of the best offensive players in the conference. We knew this was the type of player that we were getting when we recruited Gio.”
Rodriguez, who has scored goals in three consecutive matches, has three goals and eight points in the first four games.
The Yellowjackets (3-1) open the home portion of their schedule at 8:30 p.m. today at the NBC Spartan Sports Complex when they play host to Augsburg College.
NOTE: Tonight’s game may be seen live online at ifan.tv. Matt Johnson will provide the play-by-play.
