UDC’s Gabriel Velluto Earns ECC Defensive Player of the Week
WEST BABYLON, NY – The University of the District of Columbia's Gabriel Velluto was named East Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in the week ending Sept. 3.
Velluto, a sophomore midfielder and returning 2017 ECC 3rd Team All-East Coast Conference honoree, gave the Firebirds a giant lift in their season-opening weekend where they won one game and tied another.
Offensively, the Sao Paulo, Brazil native assisted Kelvin Herrera's goal – UDC's first of the game – in a 2-0 season-opening win vs. Goldey-Beacom College on Thurs., Aug. 30, and then he scored UDC's first goal in a 2-2 double-overtime tie vs. Wilmington University on Sat., Sept. 1.
Defensively, Velluto first keyed a defensive shut out vs. the Lightning in which Goldey-Beacom took only five shots and put only two on goal. Then, against Wilmington, he made a critical defensive save from his midfield position with only 13 minutes remaining in regulation to preserve a 2-2 tie.
Velluto and the Firebirds will take on two non-regional opponents this week away from home. First, they travel to Richmond, Va. for a neutral site contest vs. Barton College on Wed., Sept. 5, and then they visit Seton Hill College in Greensburg, Pa. on Sat., Sept. 8.