Jeff Salt – RS Junior – Goalkeeper – Cal State Fullerton –
No player in the country likely had more of an impact on the success of his team this week than Cal State Fullerton netminder Jeff Salt. It began when the Titans defeated UC Riverside on the road 3-0 in the semifinals of the Big West Conference Tournament. In that match Salt had six saves including a momemtum changing stop of a penalty kick early in the match. Salt also had four saves in the championship match with UC Irvine that was tied 0-0 at the end of regulation and extra time. He made two saves in the ensuing penalty kick shootout which paved the way for Cal State Fullerton to prevail 3-2 in penalty kicks to claim the Big West Tournament Championship and the conference's automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament. For his efforts he was named the Big West Tournament MVP.
Salt has stopped seven of the eleven penalty kick attempts he has faced this season.
It was an impressive outcome for the Titans from Cal State Fullerton who under the direction of George Kuntz won the the Big West Tournament Championship for the first time since the tourney began in 2008 and return to the NCAA Tournament field for the first time since the 2000 season.
Cal State Fullerton and the rest of the country awaits the announcement of the NCAA Tournament selection committee on Monday, November 17 to find out who they will face in the NCAA Tournament.
