Mustangs’ Geraci, Voyageurs’ Oku earn OUA Athlete of the Week honours
Burlington, Ont. – Giulia Geraci and Augustus Oku have been named Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Athletes of the Week for the period ending September 2, 2019.
Female Athlete of the Week – Giulia Geraci, Western Mustangs, Soccer
The Western Mustangs had a productive weekend up north in a pair of matchups against the Algoma Thunderbirds, with Giulia Geraci headlining the high-octane output of the purple ponies.
In the ‘Stangs first game of the season, Geraci got right to work, as the third-year midfielder poured in a hat trick in the opener. In fact, Geraci netted the first three goals of the game – ultimately accounting for half of her team’s production in the game – earning her first two within the opening six minutes before adding her third tally in the 23rd minute of the opening half.
While she didn’t quite bulge the twine to the same degree in the team’s encore meeting, she was still able to add to her early league-leading total on Sunday. Geraci provided the team’s second goal of the game in the 82nd minute off a feed from teammate Alyssa Rizzo, sparking a stretch of three Mustang goals in just eight minutes.
Male Athlete of the Week – Augustus Oku, Laurentian Voyageurs, Soccer
The Laurentian Voyageurs split their opening weekend on the pitch, picking up three combined goals in their up and down weekend. But while the results may have been different from one day to the next, the key producer remained the same, with Augustus Oku accounting for all three of the team’s tallies.
The second-year forward burst into the scoresheet to open up the 2019 campaign, netting his first just nine minutes into the game. The goal sparked a strong start for the Voyageurs against rival Nipissing, standing as the difference for much of the opening half before the Lakers added a pair to claim the win.
Looking to bounce back on Sunday, Laurentian once again turned to the sophomore scorer to ignite their offence against Trent. This time, Oku reversed the strategy, and with his team down 1-0 early on, was able to correct their course in a big way. Just six minutes after Trent took the lead, Oku potted his second of the season before doubling down and putting home the game-winner just four minutes later in the 25th minute.
The three markers have Oku positioned atop the OUA scoring race after the opening weekend.
