Xhameta, Zanardi Earn Humber Student-Athlete of the Week Honours

Soccer keeper Holger Xhameta and forward Giulia Zanardi have earned Humber Athletics Student-Athlete of the Week honours for the week of Nov. 8-14.

Giulia Zanardi

Soccer
Forward
Fifth Year
Sport Management
Tottenham, ON

Senior Giulia Zanardi was named to the CCAA Championship all-tournament team, after earning Player of the Match in Humber's 3-0 quarter-final victory over the SAIT Trojans.

With Humber's medal hopes on the line in the bronze quarter against Fanshawe, Zanardi tied the match with less than three minutes remaining in regulation. When Catarina Medeiros swung her kick into the box, Zanardi was there to head home the equalizer. 

During the penalty shootout, Zanardi shot first for the Hawks, giving Humber the early 1-0 lead.

Holger Xhameta

Soccer
Keeper
First Year
Computer Systems
Tirana, Albania

It was a brilliant championship run by Humber's Holger Xhameta, who did not concede a goal in open play against the best teams in the country. As Humber captured the program's eighth CCAA national championship banner, the rookie recorded two clean sheets during the tournament.

With Humber's championship hopes beginning to dwindle, the Albanian stepped up for the Hawks in the penalty shootout against Montmorency in the semifinal round. After a missed kick, Xhameta stepped up and made a brilliant diving save, bringing Humber back to even with the Nomades. Luca Uccello buried his shot to give Humber the lead once again, and Xhameta made another diving save to seal the victory, sending the Hawks to the ninth title match in program history.

Xhameta joins Humber legends Eugenio Garro (twice) and Karman Singh as the only keepers to win a penalty shootout and national title in the same tournament.