LABRADA KEYS DEFENSE

PETERSBURG, Va., (Oct. 5, 2015) -- In a sport like soccer, where a single goal can signal victory or defeat, having a strong defense -- especially in goal -- is paramount.

This season, freshman goalie Ciro Labrada has distinguished himself in his first season, and for his six-save performance in a 2-1 victory over Johnson & Wales on Sunday afternoon, Labrada has earned Student-Athlete of the Week honors for a second time.

Behind Labrada's performance in goal, the Richard Bland College men's soccer team snapped a two-game losing streak with a rain-sogged comeback victory over the previously unbeaten (7-0) Wildcats.

"Ciro had a great game and made a couple of big saves in the second half," said head coach Eduardo de Souza. "He was a true difference maker in the game."

From the outset, Labrada has been one of the top goalies in the NJCAA Division I. With 85 saves on the season, he ranks third in the nation as of Oct. 5.

Labrada, a native of Guanajuto, Mexico, is a 2015 graduate of Stonewall Jackson High School in Manassas, VA. At Stonewall Jackson, he earned three varsity letters and was an All-Cedar Run Conference selection as a senior. He also played football and wrestled at Cedar Run.

The Statesmen, 8-4-1, 5-3-1, resume Region X play on Saturday, Oct. 10 with a road game against the University of South Carolina Salkehatchie at 4:00 p.m. On Sunday, Richard Bland faces USC Lancaster at 1:00 p.m.