News Release
NJCU�S JONATHAN BILBAO NAMED NEW JERSEY ATHLETIC CONFERENCE OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
PITMAN, NJ�New Jersey City University junior center midfielder JONATHAN BILBAO (Carteret, NJ/St. Benedict�s Prep) has been named the New Jersey Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week for the first time in his career, after scoring two goals for four points during the 2007 NJAC Tournament last week. The award is for week 10 of the 2007 season.
Bilbao becomes the third different NJCU player to receive the honor this season and marks the fourth time overall this year and the 10th time in three years that the Gothic Knights have earned the accolade. Bilbao�s twin brother, EDISON BILBAO earned the nod in week two on September 10, while junior forward CRISTHIAN ACUNA (East Newark, NJ/Harrison) was selected on September 17 and 24. It is the second award of the season for Jonathan Bilbao, who was tabbed to the D3Kicks.com National Team of the Week on October 16.
In NJCU�s 3-0 win over #25 ranked Ramapo College in the NJAC Semifinals on October 31, Bilbao scored twice in a span of 4:10 in the first half to give the Gothic Knights a 2-0 advantage and a 3-0 halftime lead.
Bilbao put NJCU in front at 19:57 of the first half with his ninth goal of the year. He received a pass from the left sideline and uncorked a hard, spinning shot from 25 yards out on the deep left wing. The game-winner by Bilbao was the ninth of his career, tying the all-time program career record.
Early in the 25th minute, NJCU was
awarded a penalty kick after being tackled in the box. Jonathan Bilbao tucked a shot inside the right post for a 2-0 NJCU edge at 24:07. Bilbao is now 5-for-5 in penalty kicks in his career, including two in regulation, and 3-for-3 this season. The goal was his 10th of the season as he moved into ninth place in school history in points with 56 (18 goals, 20 assists).
Bilbao currently ranks tied for second in the NJAC in assists (9), third in points (29), tied for third in game-winning goals (4), fifth in assists per game (0.45), tied for sixth in points per game (1.45), tied for seventh in goals (10), 10th in goals per game (0.50), and tied for 10th in shots (47).
The most accomplished NCAA playoff performer on the NJCU roster, Bilbao will lead the Gothic Knights into the NCAA Division III Tournament for the second time in three years on November 10 when the Knights (16-4-1), the New Jersey Athletic Conference regular season champions and NJAC Tournament runners-up, face Castleton State College (VT) in the first round in Newark, NJ.
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Submitted 2007-11-05 21:58:16 by New Jersey City University Sports Information Department
