BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Bridgewater State University senior defensive tackle Thomas Rocha has been selected as the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Football Defensive Player of the Week.

Rocha notched five tackles (four solo) including a pair of sacks and forced a fumble in the Bridgewater's 35-15 MASCAC win over UMass Dartmouth. With the Bears’ trailing 9-7 in the third quarter, Rocha’s strip sack gave BSU great field position at the UMass 37. On the very next play, senior running back Isaiah Wright (Worcester, Mass.) broke free for a 37-yard touchdown to give the Bears a lead they would not relinquish.

Through seven games this season, Rocha has recorded 39 tackles (15 solo) with five tackles for loss, four sacks and a forced fumble. He currently ranks sixth in the MASCAC in sacks.

In 31 games over four seasons with the Bears, Rocha has amassed 108 tackles (50 solo) with 13 1/2 tackles for loss and ten sacks.

The MASCAC Defensive Player of the Week distinction marks the first of Rocha's career.

The BSU football team is currently 3-4 on the season and 3-3 in the MASCAC. The Bears travel to Fitchburg State University on Saturday to take on the Falcons at noon.