LA JOLLA, Calif. — UC San Diego men's soccer has another Pac-12 Player of the Week award as the conference announced the Tritons' Keenai Braun as the Defensive Player of the Week today.
 
After the first four weeks of the men's soccer season, UC San Diego has six Pac-12 Player of the Week awards. The Tritons have earned the Defensive Player of the Week honor every week.
 
The selection for Braun comes after the Tritons split their two road matches last week, losing 1-0 at UNLV on Thursday before beating Utah Tech 2-0 on Sunday.
 
Braun played a big role in Sunday's win, scoring the eventual game-winning goal with only two seconds left in the first half. The center back and team captain also guided the defense to a shutout. Utah Tech took five total shots, with only one on target.
 
The Triton defense also had a solid showing at UNLV despite the loss. The Rebels recorded eight shots, four of which were on target. Braun was one of only two Triton field players to play all 90 minutes during both matches this week.
 
UC San Diego is 5-1-0 on the year, with the Tritons recording shutouts in all five of their wins. That ties the program's Division I record for most shutouts in a single season.
 
Braun is a native of Foothill Ranch, California. The senior is majoring in mechanical engineering at Eighth College.
 
The Tritons are back in action this Sunday, Sept. 20, for the start of a three-match homestand. The match with UC Irvine begins at 7:00 p.m. on ESPN+. Tickets are available through Triton Box Office.
 
PAC-12 PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
D Gavin Carlson, Defensive Player of the Week (Aug. 25)
M Oren Stuppel, Offensive Player of the Week (Aug. 25)
GK Nic Thiele, Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 1)
D Gavin Carlson, Newcomer and Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 9)
D Keenai Braun, Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 15)
 
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 in NCAA Division I. The 24-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 39 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 NCAA Division I or II. For more information on the Tritons, visit UCSDtritons.com or follow UC San Diego Athletics on social media @UCSDtritons.