NEC Player of the Week: Jayd Hamdaoua, FDU
NEC Rookie of the Week: Jonathan Ghobrial, FDU
Previous NEC Releases: September 18 | September 11 | September 5 | August 28 | NEC Preseason Poll

NEC MEN'S SOCCER PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jayd Hamdaoua, Sr., F, FDU
Paris, France/Drury
In a 1-1 week, FDU bounced back from a setback to No. 17 Pitt to win its conference opener on Sunday sparked by Hamdaoua's hat trick. The Knights kicked off their NEC title defense at home against Howard in a torrential downpour with a 4-2 victory. With the game tied at 1-1, Hamdaoua scored his first goal of the season in the 30th minute with a low-driven strike in to the left side-netting of the goal. He then found himself on the end of a longball into the final third, took his first touch past the keeper and tucked it home for a 3-1 lead with seconds to go in the first half. Building upon this momemtum, the senior from Paris, France completed his hat trick in the 58th minute following up a rebound from a set-piece. Hamdaoua recorded the first hat trick in the NEC this season and now is FDU's co-leader the Knights in goals (3) with teammate Tony Gomez. Hamdaoua produced the most points this week across the conference accumulating six in just one game. Concluding the first week of NEC action, FDU picked up three points and sit at the top of the table with Saint Francis U and Sacred Heart.

NEC MEN'S SOCCER ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Jonathan Ghobrial, Fr., MF, FDU
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada/Philopateer Christian
Ghobrial earned his first collegiate point on Sunday in FDU's 4-2 triumph over Howard in its conference opener. In his eighth start of the season, he picked up an assist in the 22nd minute of the game to open up the scoring after teammate Tony Gomez tapped one home for the Knights.

NEC PRIME PERFORMERS

Austin Rocke, Jr., MF, CCSU

• Rocke tallied both of CCSU's goals last week in matches against UConn and LIU. 
• In a 3-1 loss to UConn on Tuesday, Rocke equalized the game at 1-1 in the 31st minute, tucking home a penalty kick.
• In a 1-1 draw to open NEC play, the junior midfielder scored a 17th minute equalizer against LIU from the penalty mark.
• Has scored goals in back-to-back games and three of the last four.

Jayd Hamdaoua, Sr., F, FDU

• Completed a hat trick on Sunday to open FDU's NEC title defense in a 4-2 victory over Howard.
• Hamdaoua recorded the first hat trick in the NEC this season.
• Tied for FDU lead in goals (3) and points (7) with teammate Tony Gomez.
• Tabbed NEC Player of the Week and is FDU's third straight honoree.

Luca Nicastro, Gr., MF, LEM

• Tallied three points on one goal and one assist in Le Moyne's 0-0-2 week.
• On Tuesday, Nicastro buried the first goal of the game just three minutes in against Delaware in a 2-2 draw.
• On Sunday, the graduate midfielder posted his first assist as a Dolphin, creating their opening goal and equalizer against Stonehill in the 22nd minute. 

David Garcia Gallego, So., MF, SHU

• In a 1-1 week, Gallego scored a goal and had two assists to tally four points for Sacred Heart. 
• In a 2-1 defeat to Lehigh on Tuesday, Gallego assisted the Pios' lone goal.
• On Sunday, the sophomore midfielder produced a goal and an assist in a resounding 4-1 triumph over Merrimack.
• Gallego is tied with Olliver Persson for the team lead with eight points, logging three goals and two assists this season.

Olliver Persson,  Sr., F , SHU

• Persson recorded a goal in each of Sacred Heart's two games last week.
• On Tuesday against Lehigh, he tucked home the lone goal in the Pios' 2-1 loss.
• On Sunday against Merrimack, Persson netted the fourth goal in their NEC opener.
• Persson paces the Pios with four goals and is tied with David Garcia Gallego for the team scoring lead with eight points.
• Persson ranks second in the conference with four goals.

Jordaine Jaeger, So., GK, SFU

• In its only game of the week, Saint Francis U opened NEC action with a 1-0 victory on the road over Stonehill, stretching their unbeaten streak to seven.
• Jaeger made a season-high seven saves on Thursday and recorded his third straight shutout and eighth in his career.

Julian Jakopovic, So., MF, SFU

• Jakopovic found the back of the net with a game-winning half-volley from outside the box in Saint Francis U's 1-0 win over Stonehill in their NEC opener on Thursday.
• His game-winner came in the 78th minute of the game and extended SFU's unbeaten streak with a overall record of 3-0-4.
• Notched his first collegiate goal.

Jacob Woznicki, Sr., F, STO

• Stonehill went 0-1-1 in NEC action this week with a loss against Saint Francis U and a tie against newcomer Le Moyne.
• Woznicki contributed to both goals on Sunday in their NEC matchup vs. Le Moyne. The senior forward recorded a goal and an assit in the 2-2 draw.
• Woznicki ranks second on the squad with three goals while leaing the team with three assists. He is second in the NEC in points (9) and points per game (1.12).

2023 NEC MEN'S SOCCER WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS

PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Aug. 28: Torren Aikens, SFU
Sept. 5: Ben Assane Fall, LIU
Sept. 11: Spencer King, FDU
Sept. 18: Spencer King, FDU
Sept. 25: Jayd Hamdaoua, FDU
 
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Aug. 28: Álvaro Planas, SFU
Sept. 5: Joschi Schelb, SFU
Sept. 11: Joschi Schelb, SFU
Sept. 18: Fabian Wagner, SFU
Sept. 25: Jonathan Ghobrial, FDU