Players of the Week
Offensive Player of the Week
Joao De Aquino (District of Columbia)
Jr., F, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, Herbert De Souza
De Aquino scored his first three goals of the season by way of a hat trick in UDC’s crucial 6-0 victory over Roberts Wesleyan, helping the Firebirds clinch their fourth consecutive ECC playoff appearance. He set the tone early for the Firebirds scoring the first goal of the match (and game-winner) just 3 minutes into the first half.
Defensive Player of the Week
Zachary Parker (District of Columbia)
Sr., M, Lorton, VA, Hayfield Secondary School
Parker, a natural midfielder who has transitioned into a central defensive role, helped anchor the Firebirds' backline during two consecutive shutout victories in conference play to clinch a playoff berth. Parker won the majority of his aerial duels across the two matches, providing a strong defensive presence. In UDC's 3-0 victory over Daemen, he helped limit the Wildcats to just five shot attempts, with only one on target.
Goalkeeper of the Week
Lorenzo Herrera (District of Columbia)
Fr., GK, Alexandria, Virginia, Hayfield Secondary School
Herrera went 2-0 with two shutouts, helping UDC clinch its fourth consecutive ECC playoff appearance. In a 3-0 victory over Daemen, Herrera made a key save to preserve the clean sheet. He followed that performance with a game-high six saves in UDC’s dominant 6-0 Senior Day win over Roberts Wesleyan. Herrera recorded his 6th and 7th individual shutouts of the season during the week, to add to a new UDC program record for 9 shutouts in a single season.
Rookie of the Week
Mael Pierre Paul (Molloy)
Fr., F, Stratford, Conn., Bunnell
Pierre Paul took the game by storm Saturday afternoon, leading Molloy to a 3-1 upset victory over No. 24 Mercy. The rookie scored twice in the second half, with his first goal in the 62nd minute serving as the game-winner. He sealed the Lions’ triumph with his second tally of the afternoon in the 87th minute. Pierre Paul recorded career highs with two goals and four points while putting five of his six shots on target (83.3%).
Weekly Honor Roll
Isaiah Daniel (District of Columbia)
Sr., M, Kent, England, Holcombe grammar school
Daniel posted two goals and an assist in a 2-0 week for the Firebirds. In the Firebirds 3-0 victory over Daemen on the road, Daniel opened up the scoring for the Firebirds before going on to assist in the second goal. In the play-off clinching win over Roberts Wesleyan, he scored one of the Firebirds six goals.
Jalen Moni (St. Thomas Aquinas)
Sr., F, Hillsborough, N.J., Hillsborough
Moni tallied his seventh goal of the season in a 3-2 win over Daemen. The senior forward also recorded five total shots in matches with the Wildcats and Staten Island on the week.
Dante Muntane (St. Thomas Aquinas)
So., GK, Rosario, Argentina, Instituto La Inmaculada School
Muntane went 2-0-0 on the week with a 1-0 shutout victory at Staten Island and a 3-2 home win against Daemen to help secure the ECC Regular Season title and a first-round bye. The STAC sophomore had to make just one save against the Dolphins to earn his fifth clean sheet of the season and followed it up by turning 2 of 4 shots fired his way by the Wildcats.
Matthew Solorio (D'Youville)
Jr., GK, Kansas City, MO, Oak Park
Solorio recorded his eighth clean sheet of the season in the Saints scoreless draw against Queens on Saturday. The Junior also recorded another scoreless half in the Saints non-conference game against Ashland on Monday. Solorio recorded five saves including a save on a penalty kick against Ashland on Monday.
2026 ECC Men’s Soccer Weekly Award Winners
Offensive Player of the Week
Aug. 31 – Jacob Darwesh Lund-Iversen (Mercy)
Sep. 7 – Tommy Gunn (Queens)
Sep. 14 – Jacob Darwesh Lund-Iversen (Mercy) (2x)
Sep. 21 – Bradyn Brown (Queens)
Sep. 28 – Jack Veletanga (Molloy)
Oct. 5 – Omar Daoudi (D'Youville)
Oct. 12 – Shawn Richardson (D'Youville)
Oct. 19 – Kleverson Bolanos (Queens)
Oct. 26 – Joao De Aquino (District of Columbia)
Defensive Player of the Week
Aug. 31 – Tommy Wagner (Queens)
Sep. 7 – Philip Hauge (Mercy)
Sep. 14 – Anton Mand (Queens)
Sep. 21 – Anton Mand (Queens) (2x)
Sep. 28 – Pau Ramon (Mercy)
Oct. 5 – Philip Hauge (Mercy) (2x)
Oct. 12 – Aiden Ambeau (Roberts Wesleyan)
Oct. 19 – Alexander Stevens-Lee (District of Columbia)
Oct. 26 – Zachary Parker (District of Columbia)
Goalkeeper of the Week
Aug. 31 – Matthew Solorio (D'Youville)
Sep. 7 – Harry Cooke (Mercy)
Sep. 14 – Matthew Solorio (D'Youville) (2x)
Sep. 21 – Carlos Romero Astacio (Staten Island)
Sep. 28 – Dante Muntane (St. Thomas Aquinas)
Oct. 5 – Sean Green (Mercy)
Oct. 12 – Dante Muntane (St. Thomas Aquinas) (2x)
Oct. 19 – Lorenzo Herrera (District of Columbia)
Oct. 26 – Lorenzo Herrera (District of Columbia) (2x)
Rookie of the Week
Aug. 31 – Lorenzo Herrera (District of Columbia)
Sep. 7 – Stian Haugland (Queens)
Sep. 14 – Ewan Brodie (D'Youville)
Sep. 21 – Stian Haugland (Queens) (2x)
Sep. 28 – Dylan Meadows (Staten Island)
Oct. 5 – Dylan Meadows (Staten Island) (2x)
Oct. 12 – Mason Simmons (Roberts Wesleyan)
Oct. 19 – Massimo Bruno (Molloy)
Oct. 26 – Mael Pierre Pierre Paul (Molloy)
2026 ECC Men’s Soccer Preseason Poll
1. Queens - 80 points (8 first-place votes)
2. Roberts Wesleyan - 71 points (1 first-place vote)
3. Mercy - 56 points
4. St. Thomas Aquinas - 54 points
5. District of Columbia - 44 points
6. Molloy - 39 points
7. D'Youville - 30 points
8. Staten Island - 20 points
9. Daemen - 11 points
***
Founded as the New York Collegiate Athletic Conference in 1989 and rechristened the East Coast Conference in July 2006, the ECC was formed to enhance intercollegiate athletic competition among member institutions and to assist them in integrating athletics into their academic program in a fiscally sound way. The ECC is committed to the highest standards of scholarship, sportsmanship, teamwork, and citizenship. Its mission is to promote the total person concept in its student-athletes, which stresses the abilities to excel in academic achievement, athletic competition, and positive character traits. East Coast Conference members include: Daemen University (Amherst, N.Y.); University of the District of Columbia (Washington, D.C.); D'Youville University (Buffalo, N.Y.); Mercy University (Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.); Molloy University (Rockville Centre, N.Y.); Queens College (Flushing, N.Y.); Roberts Wesleyan University (Rochester, N.Y.); College of Staten Island (Staten Island, N.Y.); and St. Thomas Aquinas College (Sparkill, N.Y.). The ECC also is home to 13 associate members in the sports of women’s bowling (3), men’s and women’s indoor track & field (3), men's volleyball (2), field hockey (1), and men’s lacrosse (1).
The ECC sponsors the following championship sports: baseball; men’s and women’s basketball; women's bowling; men’s and women’s cross country; field hockey; men’s and women’s lacrosse; men’s and women’s indoor track and field; men’s and women’s outdoor track and field; men’s and women’s soccer; softball; and men's and women’s volleyball.
The East Coast Conference is a proud member of the NCAA and Division II. Division II is a dynamic and engaging group of colleges, institutions and conferences of varying sizes and educational missions. Division II members encourage and support diversity; value sportsmanship, fairness and equity; and place the highest priority on the overall educational excellence of the student-athlete.