LA JOLLA, Calif.— UC San Diego men's soccer defender, Noah Sonenstein, represented Team USA abroad at the 21st Maccabiah Games in Israel, where they secured the silver medal.
 
Team USA went 5-1 throughout the Games with wins over Belgium, Uruguay, Brazil, and Argentina. In a decisive opening match, Team USA scored seven goals against Belgium and went on to score eight more over the tournament.
 
"Having never been out of the US, to be in an entirely different part of the world, to learn more about my Jewish heritage, and to play soccer at the international level, all with a group of guys who went from being complete strangers to my closest friends was an unforgettable experience that exceeded all my expectations," Sonenstein reflected.
 
Reaching the final, Team USA faced Team Uruguay for a rematch and dropped the match 2-3. Appearing in all six games, Sonenstein started three games for the red, white, and blue. His first goal scored came against Team Sweden in the third matchup, and in the final, Sonenstein recorded an assist and scored a goal.
 
Looking ahead to the 2022 season, Sonenstein remarked, "For a lot of the guys on the team, this was their last hoorah. I'm grateful that I get to continue playing the game at the highest level and I'll carry that gratitude into every game I play. I'm ready to get after it!"
 

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About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program has begun a new era as a member of the Big West Conference in NCAA Division I. The 23-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 83 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 38 have garnered prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 90 percent, the highest rate among public institutions in Division I or II. For more information on the Tritons, visit UCSDtritons.com or follow UC San Diego Athletics on social media @UCSDtritons.