NEC Player of the Week: Ben Assane Fall, LIU
NEC Rookie of the Week: Joschi Schelb, SFU
Previous NEC Releases: August 28 |
NEC Preseason Poll
NEC MEN'S SOCCER PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Ben Assane Fall, Jr., F, LIU
Rufisque, Dakar, Senegal/École Privée Serigne Touba
Following a thrilling return from injury, Fall continues to impress in his junior season with the Sharks. The forward from Rufisque, Dakar, Senegal notched two goals and an assist in a 2-1 week and has contributed offensively in three of the four games thus far. On Friday, Fall led the charge in the attack against Big East foe UConn where he opened the scoring with a well-timed interception to pick the ball off the defender's foot, beat the keeper and tuck the ball into the goal. In the second half, he took the ball out of the air, beat two defenders and slid a ball across the box to find teammate Emil Jaaskelainen squared in front of the goal to secure the 2-0 triumph on the road. In a comfortable victory over VMI on Sunday, Fall scored in the 78th minute to add cushion to a 4-0 scoreline. Fall is the NEC co-leader with three goals and ranks second with seven points.
NEC MEN'S SOCCER ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Joschi Schelb, Fr., F, Saint Francis U
Freiburg, Germany/Angell
In the only match of the week for the Red Flash, Schelb played an impactful role in all three goals of a 3-3 tie against Wright State on Saturday. Just five minutes into the game, the rookie forward created a scoring opportunity for teammate Mikey Chiha to take a 1-0 lead, and then recorded his second assist in the 34th minute on an Alvaro Planas tally for a 2-1 scoreline. Trailing by a goal in the second half, Schelb scored a 50th minute equalizer firing a shot in the lower right of the frame past the keeper for his first career goal. The Freiburg, Germany native leads all NEC freshman with five points and his three assists ranks first in the conference.
NEC PRIME PERFORMERS
Kyle Halehale, Jr., MF, CCSU
- Scored the go-ahead goal in the 48th minute and then assisted the third goal in a 3-2 triumph at St. Bonaventure on Friday for CCSU's first win of the season.
Spencer King, Gr., GK, FDU
- In FDU's 1-1-1 week, the 2022 NEC Goalkeeper of the Year posted two shutouts and recorded 12 saves over three matches, including a west coast swing to play at Cal and Saint Mary's.
- Through four games played, King co-leads the conference with a 1.000 goals against average and two shutouts.
Ben Assane Fall, Jr., F, LIU
- In LIU's 2-1 week, Fall scored two goals and recorded an assist against Big East foe UConn and VMI.
- Fall is tied for the NEC lead with three goals and seven points.
- Has contributed offensively with points in three of LIU's four games played thus far.
- Tabbed NEC Player of the Week.
Emil Jaaskelainen, Sr., F, LIU
- Found the back of the net in each of LIU's wins this week over Big East foe UConn and VMI.
- Ranks in the NEC top-three in goals (two), assists (two) and points (six).
Luca Nicastro, Gr., MF, LEM
- Found the back of the net on an 84th minute set piece to level the score at 1-1 on the road against Saint Peter's on Thursday.
Alan Martinez, Jr., MF, LIU
- Scored the lone goal in LIU's 3-1 loss to Monmouth just 90 seconds into the game last Monday.
- A key playmaker after recording two assists in a 4-0 triumph over VMI on Monday.
David Garcia Gallego, So., MF, SHU
- Gallego buried a 35th minute game-winner in Sacred Heart's first win of the season over Siena on Tuesday.
Joschi Schelb, Fr., MF, SFU
- Played an impactful role in every goal of a 3-3 tie against Wright State on Saturday.
- Assisted the opening goal of the game as well as the go-ahead goal.
- Scored the 3-3 equalizer five minutes into the second half.
- Leads the NEC with three assists, averaging an assist per game, and his five points pace all conference freshmen.
- Tabbed NEC Rookie of the Week.
Tiago Bittencourt, Fr., F, STO
- Recorded two goals in Monday's 6-1 triumph over Niagara on Stonehill's home turf.
- Scored the go-ahead goal to open the second half and then added a second in the 63rd minute.
Jacob Woznicki, Sr., F, STO
- Scored twice and posted an assist in Stonehill's 1-0-1 week against Canisius and Niagara.
- Opened the scoring in Skyhawks' 2-2 tie against Canisius on Friday.
- Assisted the go-ahead goal against Niagara and then scored to spark a 6-1 victory on Monday.
2023 NEC MEN'S SOCCER WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS:
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Aug. 28: Torren Aikens, SFU
Sept. 5: Ben Assane Fall, LIU
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Aug. 28: Álvaro Planas, SFU
Sept. 5: Joschi Schelb, SFU