Rio Grande's de Melo picks up RSC Men's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
FLORENCE, Ky. -- University of Rio Grande (Ohio) defender Heitor de Melo was a part of two shutout wins for the RedStorm to earn River States Conference Men's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week for Oct. 17-23.
The 6-1 native of Sao Paulo, Brazil, anchored a defense that allowed just one shot on goal and six shots all together in shutout wins over Shawnee State (Ohio), 8-0, and Point Park (Pa.), 5-0.
The defensive effort bumped Rio Grande's shutout total to 10 in 16 games, which ranks third in the NAIA. The RedStorm are ranked No. 3 in the NAIA Top 25 and are tied atop the conference at 5-0-1.
de Melo and the Rio Grande defense lead the RSC with 0.50 goals against per game. That is eight total goals given up in 16 games, which is seventh in the country. de Melo has started all 16 games for Rio Grande, which visits Cincinnati Christian Oct. 27 for its next game.