NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's Iman Ouedraogo and Breno Zanolla were named Tuesday as Red River Athletic Conference weekly award winners in men's soccer.
        Ouedraogo won RRAC Offensive Player of the Week, and Zanolla received Defensive Player of the Week for Sept. 1-7. Ouedraogo, a first-year XULA player, won for the second time this season. Zanolla won for the first time this season and the fourth time in his career.
        Ouedraogo, a junior forward from Paris, France, scored the first two goals Wednesday in a 4-0 victory at NAIA No. 8 William Carey — XULA's first-ever road victory against a ranked opponent. This is XULA's third varsity season. Ouedrago led an offense that helped the Gold Rush become the first visiting team since 2013 to score four goals against William Carey.
        Ouedraogo (pronounced EE-mon   wee-draw-go) transferred from two-year Arizona Western College.
        Zanolla — a senior goalkeeper from Sao Paulo, Brazil, and a transfer from St. Louis Community College — against Carey earned his 25th career victory for XULA and 20th shutout. The shutout was Zanolla's second in a row against a top-10 opponent; the Gold Rush defeated Mobile 2-0 at home Aug. 29.
        It's the second straight week that XULA won the RRAC defensive award. Diego Pacheco earned it for Aug. 25-31.
        Next for the XULA men (3-1-1) will be their Red River Athletic Conference opener, Sept. 25 at 3:30 p.m. against Texas College. Admission will be free at Lafreniere Park in Metairie, La.



Photos of Iman Ouedraogo and Breno Zanolla by Yamlak Tsega