SAN MARCOS, Calif. – Jesus Mentado of Cal State San Marcos received the nod as the Pixellot/CCAA Men's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week after Thursday's regular-season finale.

Mentado recorded a season-high seven saves in the Cougars' 1-1 draw at Cal State East Bay, helping CSUSM clinch its first-ever CCAA Tournament berth.

Technically, Mentado didn't give up a goal. In the fourth minute of the match, CSUSM accidentally put the ball into their own goal trying to deflect a pass in front of the keeper.

The junior from San Pedro turned away many Pioneer chances to preserve the tie as CSUSM finished with a 4-4-3 record for 15 points. The Cougars earned the No. 5 seed in the tournament and will travel to Chico to face fourth-seeded Chico State in a first-round match on Sunday.

Mentado is fifth in the CCAA in goals-against average during the 2023 season with a 1.32 GAA. He's the first Cougar to win the CCAA Men's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week award and is just the program's fourth-ever player of the week.