GANSEVOORT, N.Y. – SUNYIT senior men's soccer players Diego Montaleza (New York, N.Y. / MLK) and Malick Faye (Bronx, N.Y. / MLK) came to SUNYIT together four years ago after playing together as teammates in high school. On Monday they each added just one more award to a pair of trophy shelves that have to be getting crowded.

Diego Montaleza (New York, N.Y.) was selected as the NEAC Men's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week after a terrific set of performances for the Wildcats.  The senior forward led the Wildcats to a pair of wins behind five points last week.  Montaleza  began the week by scoring the opening goal and assisting on a second score in a 2-0 nonconference win over New Paltz State last Tuesday, and followed that up with the clinching second-half goal in a 2-0 conference win over Wells College this past Saturday.  Montaleza is now tied for the conference lead in both goals (9) and assists (6), while being in sole possession of the conference lead in points (24). 

On the other side of the ball, Malick Faye (Bronx, N.Y.) was named the NEAC Men's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week.  The senior goalie notched two shutouts and totaled 12 saves to lead the Wildcats to a pair of victories last week.  Faye, who entered the week ranked seventh nationally in save percentage, posted a four-save shutout during a 2-0 nonconference win over New Paltz State last Tuesday, highlighted by his diving save after recovering from being knocked down while trying to break up a cross pass to preserve a 1-0 lead at the time.  He followed that up with eight stops to shut out conference rival Wells College 2-0 Saturday.  Faye has now recorded six shutouts on the year and currently leads the NEAC in save percentage (.927), goals against (4) and goals-against average (0.33).  The Wildcats are now 6-1 in the NEAC and 10-1-1 overall.

To view the full NEAC press release, click here.    

*Special thanks to Eugenio Mercurio at neacsports.com for reporting contributing to this release