SOMERSET, N.J. - Fairleigh Dickinson men's soccer senior forward Diego Arribas has been named the Northeast Conference Player of the Week and freshman forward Kevin Leonhard has been named the league's Rookie of the Week, as announced by the conference office on Tuesday afternoon.

Arribas garnered an assist on sophomore Hugo Bacharach's game-tying goal in the 85' of the Knights' match at Central Connecticut on October 14 en route to a 3-3 draw (2OT) to give FDU a point in the conference table. The Madrid, Spain striker would score in the 58' of Sunday's (10/17) home fixture against LIU as the Knights handed the visiting the Sharks their first NEC loss of the season and keeping his side unbeaten in NEC play. Arribas has logged at least one statistical point in each of the Knights' previous four matches. After missing the 2020-21 fall-to-spring season, Arribas' Player of the Week recognition this week is his first NEC honor since the week of November 12, 2019 when he earned the same honor.

Leonhard is making his presence on the pitch known as the Jefferson, N.J. native bagged a goal and an assist at CCSU and an assist of his own - along with three shots on goal - in the Burgundy and Blue's bout with LIU. The 5'8" forward has been a driving force for Seth Roland's squad as the end of the regular season nears. On the campaign, Leonhard has tallied seven starts in 12 games played, not competing in just two fixtures this season. His 592 minutes played are the most of any true freshman on this year's squad. Leonhard is the Knights' first Rookie of the Week awardee after then-freshman Jeremy Opong received the honor last season during the fall-to-spring campaign in 2020-21.

Also of note, Bacharach earned NEC Prime Performer recognition for the past week in conference action and was named to TopDrawerSoccer's Team of the Week, a national-level honor.

Arribas, Leonhard and Bacharach, along with the rest of the squad, next welcome St. Francis Brooklyn to University Stadium on Sunday, October 24, at 7 p.m. live on NEC Front Row.

Fans can follow FDU men's soccer on Twitter and Instagram, @FDUKnightsMSOC.

The 2021 men's soccer season is presented by Bogota Savings Bank.