THROGGS NECK, NY – After scoring five of the Maritime College men's soccer's team six goals in Skyline Conference victories over Yeshiva and Old Westbury, Jeferson Blanco (San Pedro Sula, Honduras) has been selected as the Skyline Offensive Player of the Week.  He recorded a brace against the Maccabees, then notched his first career hat trick in the 4-1 triumph against the Panthers.

On Tuesday, Blanco found the back of the net twice in a 2-1 road win over Yeshiva.  His 73^rd-minute header leveled the score at 1-1 before he converted a penalty kick in the 82^nd minute.  Blanco followed up that effort with a hat trick against Old Westbury on Friday.  After he tied the game with a 42^nd-minute penalty kick, Blanco added two second-half tallies.  He headed one in that turned out to be the game-winner in the 53^rd minute and completed Maritime's first hat trick since 2019 with an 82^nd-minute tally.

Blanco leads the team and ranks second in the Skyline with nine goals this season.  He's the first Privateer to snag Skyline Offensive Player of the Week honors since Chris Vazquez on Sept. 12, 2023.  Carson Sadler (Gilford, NH) earned two Skyline Rookie of the Week nods last year.

Maritime (4-6-2, 3-2-2 Skyline) wrapped up non-conference play with a 2-1 loss to Lehman (3-3-4) on Monday.  The Privateers resume their Skyline slate by visiting Merchant Marine (5-2-7, 4-0-4 Skyline) on Friday at 7:30 p.m.