Sept. 13, 2016
by Tony Jones
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – A three-goal performance against league foe and No. 15 Virginia Tech has earned University of Notre Dame men’s soccer senior defender Brandon Aubrey Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Offensive Player of the Week honors, the conference announced on Tuesday. Aubrey was the second Notre Dame player to claim conference weekly accolades during the 2016 season, joining teammate Jon Gallagher (Sept. 6) in being recognized as the top ACC offensive performer.
Aubrey, one of the Notre Dame anchors at center back, exploded for a hat trick on offense in a 4-1 win over the Hokies to open ACC play on Sept. 9. Along with ACC Offensive Player of the Week, he was also selected to both the TopDrawerSoccer and College Soccer News national teams of the week on the strength of his game-winning trifecta.
Aubrey scored his third penalty kick goal in as many attempts in the 16th minute, putting Notre Dame ahead 2-0 at 15:09. He then volleyed home a free kick by way of a header at the right post at 77:29 for his second goal of the game to extend the lead to 3-0. Aubrey capped the night with a free kick strike of his own from 20 yards out to close the Irish scoring at 82:27.
Aubrey became the first Notre Dame player with a hat trick in a match since Ryan Finley scored all three goals of a 3-0 win over Providence on Oct. 20, 2012. The Irish defender leads all ACC players with six goals over his first five starts (three game-winning goals), converting six of his eight official shots on goal this season.
No. 1 Notre Dame and UConn are scheduled to face off on Tuesday at 7 p.m. (ET) in a nonconference showdown inside Alumni Stadium. Visit und.com/BuyTickets or call the Murnane Family Ticket Office at 574-631-7356 for more information or to purchase tickets.
2016 Notre Dame Men’s Soccer Weekly Honors
ACC Offensive Player of the Week
Brandon Aubrey – Sept. 13
Jon Gallagher – Sept. 6
College Soccer News National Player of the Week
Jon Gallagher – Sept. 6
College Soccer News National Team of the Week
Brandon Aubrey – Sept. 13
Jon Gallagher – Sept. 6
TopDrawerSoccer Team of the Week
Brandon Aubrey – Sept. 13
Brandon Aubrey – Aug. 30
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Tony Jones, athletics communications assistant director at the University of Notre Dame, has been part of the Fighting Irish athletics communications team since 2012 and coordinates all media efforts for the Notre Dame softball and men’s soccer programs. A native of Jamestown, New York, Jones is a 2011 graduate of St. Bonaventure University, and prior to arriving at Notre Dame held positions at the University of Louisiana Monroe and with the National Football League’s Buffalo Bills.