Kitsap Pumas goalkeeper Zac Lubin has been voted as TheCup.us Player of the Round.
Lubin was their penalty shoot out hero in his professional debut in their First Round match at Chivas El Paso Patriots. Recap [+]
First team selection Bryan Meredith withdrew late with a foot injury.
Lubin kept a clean sheet for the regulation ninety minutes and kept his side in the Cup with a double save in extra time defying Rodrigo Morin with a sensational fingertip save, and then being alert enough to prevent the rebound. But it was his performance in the penalty kick shoot out as he saved Ariel Chavez’s attempt in the ninth round to help Kitsap advance to the First Round, 6-5. The heroics of the youngster making his debut in 90 degree heat that took the voter’s imaginations and the award.
The Player of the Round award is voted on by the staff of the definitive US Open Cup site TheCup.us and a selected panel of members of the North American Soccer Reporters which also selects the MLS Player of the Week.
Lubin edged out two other players with some big-time goalscoring performances in the opening round.
David Bulow of the Richmond Kickers and Jhonny Arteaga of FC New York each had hat tricks in their teams’ respective wins.
The award is voted on by the staff of TheCup.us and a selected panel of members of the North American Soccer Reporters (www.soccerreporters.com).
Lubin edged out a couple of players with some big-time goalscoring performances. David Bulow of the Richmond Kickers and Jhonny Arteaga of FC New York each had hat tricks in their teams’ respective wins.