By Mohammad Najimi (@mnajimisjsu) – Spear Reporter | Junior defender Ruben Flores-Thomas works to secure the ball against Cal Poly defenders (Photo by Taylor Cowhey – Spear Photographer)
San Jose State junior defender Ruben Flores-Thomas was announced the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Defensive Player of the Week by the league on Tuesday.
The inaugural weekly award of his career follows a game-winning effort in the Spartans’ 2-0 victory over CSU Bakersfield last Friday.
Flores-Thomas showcased his dual-threat skills playing on both sides of the field.
Defensively, he anchored the backline for the shutout bid as SJSU earned its second shutout in three contests.
Offensively, he netted his first career goal and first assist, directly responsible for both Spartan tallies.
The Chico native began the scoring with a quick dash down the right side in the first half.
Having beaten his defender, he delivered a pass into the middle of the box where sophomore forward Arnold Matshazi scored to put SJSU ahead early. Flores-Thomas later doubled the score himself.
Senior midfielder Angel Iniguez played him free on the wing, and he carried the ball into the box before guiding a near-post shot into the top right corner.
Apart from the offense production, Flores-Thomas began and featured for all 90 minutes for a third consecutive game this season.
In three games, the Spartans have conceded just one goal, evidence of defensive solidity that has been a key to their great beginning.
The 2-0 win against CSU Bakersfield also achieved another program record. The Spartans went 3-0 for the first time since 2001 after the win, a year that had finished off with an MPSF Tournament appearance.
The success early on is a sign that the team has what it takes to be a contender in the WAC this season.
Flores-Thomas has remained one of the Spartans’ most reliable players since coming on board to campus. He played in all 20 games in 2024 and had two assists and also appeared in five games in 2023.
SJSU will look to keep its winning ways going on Thursday when it welcomes the University of San Francisco at 7 p.m. at the Spartan Soccer Complex.
