NEC Player of the Week: Jorge Tallada Torres, MU
NEC Rookie of the Week: Stephane Njike, LIU
Previous NEC Releases: September 9 | September 3 | August 26 | NEC Preseason Poll

NEC MEN'S SOCCER PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jorge Tallada Torres, Sr., A, Mercyhurst
Sevilla, Spain/Marcelo Spinola
Currently riding a three-match winning streak, Torres found the back of the net twice in Mercyhurst’s 3-2 victory at DePaul. The senior attacker rifled a header into the goal off a corner to give the Lakers a 1-0 advantage heading into the half. Locked in a 2-2 stalemate, Torres scored a no-look goal off a Philip Struble cross to secure the 3-2 triumph over the BIG EAST foe. Additionally, Mercyhurst took down Robert Morris, 1-0, earlier in the week where the Sevilla, Spain native registered two shots for a total of five on the week. Torres is the first Laker to take home an NEC Player of the Week award in any sport since Mercyhurst joined the league. 

NEC MEN'S SOCCER ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Stephane Njike, Fr., F, LIU
Strasbourg, France/Lyceé Jean Monnet
Earning his second NEC Rookie of the Week award, Njike totaled four points on a goal and two assists in an unbeaten week for the Sharks. Down a score against Fairfield, the freshman forward scored the equalizer in the 47th minute. Njike would go on to assist on the game winner in the 63rd minute to secure a 2-1 win over the Stags. The Strasbourg, France native also dished an assist in LIU’s 2-2 draw at No. 25 Georgetown. The Hoyas have been ranked as high as 14th this season. Njike’s three assists are tied for first in the NEC, while his nine points are tied for second and his three goals are tied for fourth.

NEC PRIME PERFORMERS

Spencer King, Gr., GK, FDU
Posted a .833 save percentage in an unbeaten week. Recorded 10 saves in two matches along with recording a shutout against Brown. Also made a clutch save in the final 10 seconds of the Knights' 2-2 draw against Villanova. 

Kevin Leonhard, Sr., F, FDU
Scored both goals in FDU's 2-2 tie against Villanoca. 

Ziad Abdul-Malak, R-Jr., M, LEM
Tallied his first goal of the season in Le Moyne's 2-0 victory against Saint Peter's.

Alan Martinez, Sr., M, LIU
Chipped in the game-tying goal from the top of the 18-yard box on the road in a 2-2 draw against No. 25 Georgetown. 

Stephane Njike, Fr., F, LIU
NEC Rookie of the Week.

Papa Sow, Sr., M, LIU
Found the back of the net once and dished out an assist in the 2-2 road tie against No. 25 Georgetown. 

Niklas Thanhofer, Jr., D, LIU
Totaled three points on a goal and an assist in LIU's 2-1 triumph over Fairfield. 

Jorge Tallada Torres, Sr., A, MU
NEC Player of the Week.

Rodrigo Mendes, Jr., F, SFU
In his first season at the Division I level, Mendes scored a goal and added an assist in Saint Francis U's 3-3 tie at Canisius.

Jared Rapoza, Jr., F, STO
Scored the game winner in Stonehill's 1-0 win at Holy Cross. The victory marked the Skyhawks' third straight victory before they suffered a 2-1 setback against St. Thomas. The three-match winning streak marked Stonehill's longest since 2014.

Tyler Sloan, So., GK, STO
Recorded his first career shutout with three saves in a 1-0 win against Canisius. Added three saves in a 2-1 setback against St. Thomas, including a diving stop on a penalty kick in the 56th minute. 
 
2024 NEC MEN'S SOCCER WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS

NEC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Aug. 26: Joschi Schelb, SFU
Sept. 3: Wyatt Dupell, LEM
Sept. 9: Colin Milliken, STO
Sept. 16: Jorge Tallada Torres, MU

NEC ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Aug. 26: Stephane Njike, LIU
Sept. 3: Daniil Kaban, HOW
Sept. 9: Nate Monteiro, STO
Sept. 16: Stephane Njike, LIU