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NEWARK, NJ – The NJIT men's soccer team held its annual awards banquet on Thursday, April 29 at the Faculty/Staff Dining Lounge in the Campus Center.
After remarks from head coach Pedro Lopes, three individual awards were handed out and the 2010 men's soccer captain was named.
The first award of the evening was the “Top Scorer” award presented to sophomore Rahim Stennett. Stennett, a first-team all-Atlantic Soccer Conference honoree, playing in his first season at NJIT after playing at national powerhouse Maryland in 2007 and at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College in 2008, led the team with 6 goals and 13 points.
Stennett shares NJIT's Division I school-record for most goals in a season (6) and ranks third all-time in most career goals (6). He was named ASC Player of the Week twice this season.
The Mal Simon Highlander Sportsmanship Award is given annually to that member of the senior class who has demonstrated the highest qualities of leadership, initiative, team spirit, loyalty and who has participated as a member of the NJIT men's soccer team for three years. This award went to senior Erik Magnusson.
Magnusson, a top player from NJIT's Division I era, played in 15 matches (seven starts) in 2009, collecting one goal and one assist in his final season.
Magnusson, an all-ASC honoree in his first three seasons, ranks on numerous Division I school-records – most games career (3rd; 66), most goals career (2nd; 10), shares NJIT's Division I school-record for most goals in a season (6) with Stennett, most assists career (2nd, 8), most assists in a season (2nd, 5), most points career (2nd, 28) and most points in a season (1st, 14).
Senior Alex Brito was presented with the Hernan “Chico” Borja Most Valuable Player Award. The Hernan “Chico” Borja MVP Award is presented annually to the athlete who has demonstrated the highest qualities of leadership, team spirit, loyalty, and whose play was instrumental in the highest qualities of the team's success and has been a member of the soccer team for two years.
Brito, the Highlanders right back, played in all 20 matches and was a key player that helped hold opponents to a 1.74 goals against average. He was named to the ASC all-Academic team with a 3.422 cumulative GPA majoring in biology.
Lopes' final announcement of the evening was the naming of the 2010 captain -- Devon Newton. Newton, a tri-captain in 2009, missed the entire season due to an injury sustained in a summer game. He was the only Highlander to start all 20 games in 2008.
The Highlanders will open up training camp in August.
