Oct. 9, 2006
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – For the second straight week Notre Dame junior forward Joseph Lapira (Lake Charles, La./Saint Louis Catholic) has been named the College Soccer News National Player of the Week and the BIG EAST Conference Offensive Player of the Week. Lapira was also named the Top Drawer Soccer National Player of the Week. The junior has tallied two-goals in each of the last five games, all Notre Dame wins. The Irish defeated Michigan (2-0) and Georgetown (4-1) this past week. He also collected an assist against the Hoyas.
Lapira leads NCAA Division I men’s soccer in goals with 17 and points with 36. He is also first with a 1.21 goals per game average.
Lapira becomes the first player ever to earn National Player of the Week honors in consecutive weeks from College Soccer News. That is his fifth such national accolade this season as he was named the Soccer America, Soccer Times and Top Drawer Soccer National Player of the Week following a four-goal performance, including the game-winner, in a 5-4 overtime victory against No. 8 Indiana on Sept. 3. He was named to the Soccer Times National Honor Roll last week, becoming the first player to appear on the list twice this season.
The Louisiana native was named the BIG EAST Co-Offensive Player of the Week along with Connecticut’s O’Brian White. This marked the third time this season in which Lapira has garnered the honor. He also copped the award on Sept. 4 and Oct. 2 and is the first player in program history to win the honor three times in the same season. Lapira is also the only Irish player to win any award from the league four times in a career. He was selected as the Offensive Player of the Week once as a freshman.
Notre Dame has had three players collect weekly honors from the BIG EAST this season. Senior forward Justin McGeeney (Ames, Iowa/Ames) was named the Offensive Player of the Week on Aug. 28 and fellow senior Chris Cahill (Louisville, Ky./DeSales) was tabbed as the Goalkeeper of the Week on Oct. 2.
No. 8/10 Notre Dame will carry its five-game win streak into a non-conference match against Michigan State this Wednesday (Oct. 11). Game time is set for 7:00 p.m. at Alumni Field.