LA JOLLA, Calif. – UC San Diego sophomore goalkeeper
Bella Barretto has been named The Big West Defensive Player of the Week, it was announced Monday afternoon by the conference office.
Making just her second career start, Triton sophomore goalkeeper
Bella Barretto posted a clean sheet with six saves in UC San Diego's 1-0 victory at San Diego State on Thursday. UC San Diego improved to 1-0-1 in Barretto's two starts – both of which have come on the road. The win over the Aztecs was UC San Diego's first in program history.
Barretto is the third Triton to earn Big West Defensive Player of the Week accolades since UC San Diego joined the conference in 2021. Former goalkeeper
Keara Fitzgerald was also recognized with this honor last October and center back
Katelyn Meyer was honored during the 2022 season.
Unbeaten in their last two matches, the Tritons return to the pitch Thursday night for their Big West opener against UC Irvine. As part of the Blue & Gold rivalry, tote bags will be given away to the first 100 fans in attendance. Kick-off is set for 7:05 p.m. from Triton Soccer Stadium. Admission is free, though parking permits are required seven days per week on the UC San Diego campus.
BIG WEST WEEKLY AWARD-WINNERS
Bella Barretto, Defensive (Sept. 16, 2024)
Keara Fitzgerald, Defensive (Oct. 27, 2023)
Alexis Nguyen, Freshman (Oct. 27, 2023)
Lindsey Park, Offensive (Oct. 23, 2023)
Alexis Nguyen, Freshman (Oct. 23, 2023)
Allie Luo, Freshman (Oct. 24, 2022)
Katelyn Meyer, Defensive (Oct. 10, 2022)
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 began a new era in 2020 as a member of The Big West 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 84 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 38 have earned 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 91 percent, one of the highest rates among institutions at all divisions.
