FRISCO, Texas (Sept. 20, 2017) – Former North Texas Soccer players Jordan Cano, Nico Lozada and Trey Pujats claimed NCAA Division I Conference Player of the Week awards after their performance over the previous week.
Cano was selected as the American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week after anchoring an SMU backline that earned two shutouts last weekend against Loyola (Md.) and Brown University. SMU’s 1-0 victory over Brown was the Bears’ first defeat of the season. The senior defender was selected to the All-American Athletic Conference second-team in each of the previous two seasons, and he currently leads the team in minutes played. The Frisco, Texas native played club soccer for Solar Soccer Club and FC Dallas. Cano played in the US Youth Soccer Southern Regional Premier League (SRPL) and reached the quarterfinals of the 2009 North Texas State Cup.
Nico Lozada at the 2011 National Championships (US Youth Soccer)
Lozada earned the Ivy League Player of the Week honor after he netted his first goal of the season for Brown and assisted the game-winner in a 2-1 win over No. 20 Tulsa. The victory was Brown’s first win over a ranked opponent since 2015. The senior midfielder was a 2016 All-Ivy Honorable Mention selection after starting all 17 games and leading the Ivy League with six assists. The Dallas native played in the North Texas Soccer and US Youth Soccer Region III Olympic Development Program (ODP) and played club soccer for FC Dallas. Lozada reached the finals of the North Texas State Cup in 2015 and placed third in the 2011 US Youth Soccer National Championships. Lozada also claimed a SRPL and US Youth Soccer National League Blue title while playing with FC Dallas.
Pujats was named the Western Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week after Air Force earned a pair of shutouts against Saint Mary’s and UC Davis. Pujats limited the opposition’s top threats to three shots in his side’s two wins. The senior midfielder from Keller, Texas was named the team MVP last season and has 23 more career starts than any other Air Force teammate. Pujats is a former North Texas ODP player and played his club soccer for Solar and Dallas Texans. Pujats competed in the SRPL and won the 2009 North Texas State Cup.
