Junior Jake Pezzuto, the starting goalkeeper for men's soccer team, was named this week's North Coast Athletic Conference "Player of the Week," after leading the Tigers to three shutout victories in one week.
Pezzuto said that he was "shocked" that he was selected, and he accredits all of his success to his teammates.
"If it wasn't for my coaches talking to me, my teammates talking to me, our captains talking to me, and helping give me the confidence that I need to do the things for my team that I need to do, I don't think I'd be where I am right now," Pezzuto said.
The Tigers could not have started their season any better, boasting a 6-0 record with just one goal scored against them all season. While DePauw is ranked 21st in the NCAC men's soccer league this year, they are the only team other than 10th-ranked Ohio Wesleyan that has an undefeated record.
Pezzuto, however, will not let this record coupled with this new honor to go to his head.
"We've had a very good start, but it is just that, it's just a start," he said. "I think it's also important that we take a step back and recognize that it is a long season and we still have a lot of work left to do."
This does not mean that he is not ecstatic about what this award means for his team, and for the University.
"It kind of puts DePauw's name out there as a real contender. It puts our team on the radar as a team to be reckoned with," he said, adding that it "encourages our growth."
Pezzuto hopes to keep this high momentum. Despite the immense honor that he just received, he is determined to take the future games one at a time.
"The main focus is on the next game, on the next task, and we can reflect on the season once we accomplish our goals."