After leading the California men's soccer team to a 1-0 upset of No. 1 Pitt and its first ACC victory last Friday in Pennsylvania, forward Nonso Adimabua was named the ACC Offensive Player of the Week and goalkeeper Marco Brougher was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Week, the conference announced Tuesday. Brougher was also named to the Top Drawer Soccer Team of the Week for his performance against the Panthers.
 
These are the first ACC weekly honors for Cal in men's soccer.
 
Adimabua, a fifth-year senior, pounced on a defensive miscue in the Panthers' box to score in the 21st minute. The goal sequence began when the Panthers played the ball back to their goalkeeper, Cabral Carter, deep in their box. With Cal forward Arik Duncan pressuring him, Carter passed the ball to a Pitt field player. The Panther took a bad touch in the box to leave the ball in the path of the onrushing Adimabua, who slammed the ball into the net from 14 yards out. Adimabua is now tied with Duncan for team highs in points (8) and goals (3) and is tied with Duncan and forward Malcolm Zalayet for the lead in assists (2).
 
Brougher, a junior, made a crucial 80th-minute save of a Panthers' penalty kick taken by their leading scorer, Luis Sahmkow, to preserve the shutout win. Sahmkow had previously made two of two penalty kicks this season. But the Cal goalie made a diving save of the spot kick and two minutes later saved an Eben McIntyre shot in what was Pitt's last chance of the game to earn his third shutout of the season and post a career-best seven saves. Brougher, who has started all 11 games this season, has compiled a goals-against average of 1.23 and save percentage of 0.759.
 
Cal next plays at Portland in a nonconference game against the Pilots on Friday at 7 p.m. PT.
 
STAY POSTED
For more coverage of the Cal men's soccer team, please follow the Bears on X (@CalMSoc), Instagram (@CalMSoc) and Facebook (/CalMSoc).