Isaiah Daniel Named ECC Rookie of the Year; Five Firebirds Tabbed to All-Conference Teams
BABYLON, N.Y.- Isaiah Daniel was named this year's ECC Rookie of the Year, the first in program history. Axel Gamez, Keino Thompson, Sergio Becerra, Santiago Gordillo Martinez and Daniel all earned All-Conference honors.
Daniel was named Rookie of the Year on top of earning Second-Team honors. He registered seven points on three goals and an assist in 14 games played for the UDC Firebirds, scoring in wins over Daemen, Queens, and D'Youville and dishing out an assist in a 1-1 draw with Mercy en route to ECC Rookie of the Year accolades.
Gamez earned First-Team All-Conference honors. He played in 16 games for the Firebirds ands started in 12. He scored nine goals during the regular season and had 18 points. He had a game-high two goals in games against Daemen and Staten Island and finished in the top four scorers in the conference.
Thompson was named to the ECC's Second-Team playing in 13 games and starting in eight and played a big role in the Firebirds back line.
Gordillo Martinez and Becerra were both named to the ECC's Third-Team. Gordillo Martinez played in 16 games and and made 14 starts. He scored four goals (two of which were game-winners) and had two assists. Becerra played and started in 13 games posting three shutouts. He was top three in the conference in goals against average, and top four in saves per game.
2023 ECC Men's Soccer All-Conference
First Team
F - Kevon Evans, St. Thomas Aquinas
F - Johannes Hanken Tjostheim, Mercy
F - Tamas Nagy, Roberts Wesleyan
M - Carlos Fernandes, Mercy
M - Axel Gamez, District of Columbia
M - Adolfo Martinez Paquet, Queens
M - Alejandro Zuniga, St. Thomas Aquinas
D - Julian Holland, Mercy
D - Dimitry Tchantcheu, St. Thomas Aquinas
D - Jose Mendez, Queens
GK - Eirik Elvestad, Mercy
Second Team
F - Harry Cooke, Queens
F - Miguel Espinosa, Staten Island
F - Leo Pinto, Queens
M - Daniel Angulo, Staten Island
M - Isaiah Daniel, District of Columbia
M - Kevin Johnson - Queens
M - Daniel Rodriguez, Mercy
D - Keino Thompson, District of Columbia
D - Joshua Jones, Roberts Wesleyan
D - Saul Melendez, Mercy
GK - Calle Olle Petter Gunnarsson, St. Thomas Aquinas
Third Team
F - Nicholas Sadorf, St. Thomas Aquinas
F - Santiago Gordillo Martinez , District of Columbia
F - Elijah Douglas, Daemen
M - Eduardo Costa, Mercy
M - Christian Ferlisi, St. Thomas Aquinas
M - Yahir Hernandez, St. Thomas Aquinas
M - Cooper Kerridge, Roberts Wesleyan
D - Nathan Ferguson, Roberts Wesleyan
D - Mathias Schilbred-Eriksen, Mercy
D - Suazo Dwyant, St. Thomas Aquinas
GK - Sergio Becerra, District of Columbia
Offensive Player of the Year: Kevon Evans, St. Thomas Aquinas
Defensive Co-Player of the Year: Julian Holland, Mercy
Defensive Co-Player of the Year: Dimitry Tchantcheu, St. Thomas Aquinas
Goalkeeper of the Year: Eirik Elvestad, Mercy
Rookie of the Year: Isaiah Daniel, District of Columbia
Coach of the Year: Graham Brown, St. Thomas Aquinas