LONG BEACH, CA – Menlo Men's Soccer opened the 2025 season in dominant fashion and has been rewarded with a pair of PacWest Conference honors. Senior goalkeeper Martin Fiala was named PacWest Conference Defender of the Week, while the Oaks as a team earned recognition as the PacWest Conference Team of the Week.

The Oaks kicked off the year with back-to-back victories, starting with a gritty 1-0 home win over Cal State East Bay before traveling to Arcata to defeat Cal Poly Humboldt 4-1. Menlo is now 2-0 to begin the season, outscoring opponents 5-1 across 180 minutes of play.

 

Martin Fiala: PacWest Defender of the Week

Supporting two statement wins, Fiala anchored Menlo's defense with a resilient presence in net. The reigning PacWest Second Team All-Conference goalkeeper from Slavetin, Czech Republic, played every minute of both matches, finishing the week with 10 total saves and a stellar .909 save percentage.

In the opener, Fiala's six saves, including multiple diving stops, preserved Menlo's narrow victory over the Pioneers. On Sunday, he guided the backline in holding Humboldt scoreless until the final minute of regulation, adding four more saves in the 4-1 triumph. His efforts earned him his sixth career shutout, moving him into a tie for sixth all-time in program history.

 

Menlo Oaks: PacWest Team of the Week

The team recognition came on the heels of an offensive surge and a balanced attack. Giuseppe Sigala tallied three assists, while the Oaks saw five different goal scorers across the weekend: Hannes Herrstrom against Cal East Bay, while Jose "Chicha" Garcia, Parker Faeth, David Stuber, and Isak Haukefaer each buried the ball in the back of the net against Cal Poly Humboldt. Menlo's ability to finish chances paired with Fiala's goalkeeping helped secure the program's first PacWest Team of the Week honor of the season.

 

Up Next

Menlo will look to extend its undefeated run when the Oaks return home this week to continue non-conference play on Thursday, September 11th at 4:00pm against the Warriors of Jessup University. Full schedule and live coverage are available at menloathletics.com.