SOMERSET, N.J. - Following a stellar rookie season that saw him snag 11 statistical points on three goals and five assists, sophomore Tony Gomez leads the Knights' 2021 Northeast Conference postseason men's soccer honorees as the Santander, Spain native has been named Rookie of the Year, as announced by the conference office Thursday afternoon.

Gomez, also named to the All-Rookie Team, logged a career-high three assists on Halloween as FDU played host to Howard - a 5-1 win for Seth Roland's side. During the season, Gomez was honored by the NEC as Rookie of the Week on November 2 for his performance in the fixture against the Bison as the forward also booked a goal and caught the attention of national college soccer outlets, being named to the College Soccer News National Team of the Week and garnering an honorable mention nod by TopDrawerSoccer for their national team of the week.

Three members of the Burgundy and Blue earned First Team All-NEC recognition in senior captain Ideal Shefqeti, sophomore defender Hugo Bacharach and redshirt junior midfielder Jordan Alonge. Shefqeti played and started in 16 contests this season, adding two goals and three assists in 1,400 minutes of work this year for a career total of nine goals and six assists. Bacharach earned 11 starts for Roland this season, seeing action in 12 matches in just over 1,000 minutes of playing time. Bacharach picked up three goals this season - including two game-winners - on 10 shots (.600 on target). A mainstay in the Knights' midfield this season, Alonge made his presence known throughout the league en route to his first team recognition. The London, England native, who joined the Knights in the 2020-21 academic year, added his first NCAA career goal at Merrimack in a 2-1 overtime victory on October 3. Alonge added an assist in the Knights' rout of eventual NEC regular season champion LIU on October 17, a fixture won 2-0 by the boys in blue.

After missing the 2020-21 fall-to-spring season with an injury, senior Diego Arribas bounced back stronger than ever, earning a spot on the Second Team All-NEC, along with senior Fallou Tounkara. An NEC Player of the Week this season, the Madrid, Spain, Arribas earned the Knights' golden boot following the regular season, scoring a team-high eight goals in 16 appearances for FDU (13 starts). Arribas made the television airwaves in New York City following a remarkable bicycle-kick goal in the Knights' 2-0 road win at Bryant on October 10. One-for-one on penalty kicks, Arribas set new career-bests this season in points (four) at Hofstra and goals, picking up his third career brace in the match with the Pride. Tounkara worked 1,103 minutes of work and logged one assist and three shots on goal for the Burgundy and Blue in 14 fixtures played (12 starts).

Joining Gomez on the All-Rookie Team are freshmen Kevin Leonhard and Alberto Herranz Lopez. Leonhard, an NEC Rookie of the Week, earned eight starts in his first season as a Knight scoring two goals and four assists in just over 660 minutes of playing time. Leonhard logged seven shots-on-target on 14 shots (.500). Another Spaniard, Herranz Lopez recorded his first career goal against the Sharks - the game-winner. In 17 games played, he earned 16 starts and 1,461 minutes of action on the pitch. Herranz Lopez finished the regular season with three shots-on-target.

All eight of the Knights' NEC postseason honorees, along with the rest of Roland's sqaud, is set for the 2021 NEC Tournament semifinal as third-seeded FDU battles second seed St. Francis Brooklyn at LIU Soccer Park in Brookville, N.Y. for the chance to play in Sunday's title match. Kickoff is scheduled for 10 a.m. live on ESPN3 and NEC Front Row.

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