St. John's University Athletics
Guilherme Gomes Named BIG EAST Freshman of the Year; Three Johnnies Earn All-League Honors
11/12/2025 10:37:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Gomes becomes fourth player in program history to be named BIG EAST Freshman of the Year
NEW YORK – St. John's men's soccer standout Guilherme Gomes was named BIG EAST Freshman of the Year and landed on the league's third team. The rookie was one of three Johnnies to earn All-BIG EAST recognition joined by Bjorn Nikolajewski (First Team) and Godwin Partey (Third Team) as the conference office announced its regular season awards on Wednesday.
The Red Storm men's soccer program prolongs its streak of All-BIG EAST selection to a decade and the three honorees ties for the most since Johnnies had six in 2019, which matched the second most in program history.
Gomes burst onto the scene during his rookie year to become the first St. John's player to capture a major BIG EAST award since goalkeeper Luka Gavran in 2021. The Sao Paolo, Brazil native becomes the fourth player in program history to earn the honor joining Skage Simonsen (2018), Wojtek Krakowiak (1996) and Joey Krische (1985).
Traditionally a defender when he arrived in Queens over the summer, Gomes attacking presence moved him into the midfield as he quickly emerged as a scoring threat. The rookie led the team with eight goals, 18 points, 28 shots, 15 shots on target, three game-winning goals and two made penalty kicks. The midfielder's goal total ranks fifth amongst freshman across NCAA Division I and fourth in the BIG EAST. He led the league in game-winners with three against New Hampshire (Aug. 28), Providence (Oct. 11) and Monmouth (Oct. 21).
On Aug. 28 in a 5-0 win over New Hampshire, Gomes made history becoming the first-ever St. John's freshman and first player overall to score four goals in a single-game since Fred Bischoff tallied five on Oct. 23, 1982 against Iona. The Brazilian's four-goal outing was one just seven in NCAA Division I this and the only freshman to record four tallies in a single-match. Across the conference, Gomes became the first BIG EAST player to log four goals in an outing since Duncan McGuire of Creighton in a BIG EAST Tournament Semifinal match against Seton Hall on Nov. 10, 2022. He went onto be named TopDrawerSoccer National Player of the Week on Sept. 2, the first Johnnie to receive the honor since goaltender Lenny Wilson on Oct. 30, 2018.
Gomes racked up awards throughout the season as he was twice named BIG EAST Freshman of the Week, earned the league's offensive player of the week award once and was tabbed to the weekly honor roll on Monday.
A staple of the Red Storm backline, Nikolajewski was named to the All-BIG EAST First Team. The graduate student becomes the first St. John's defender to earn all-league first team honors since former Johnnie and current D.C. United player Lucas Bartlett in 2021.
After missing the first six games of the season due to an injury, Nikolajewski made an instant impact and started the next 11 games playing 946 of 990 possibles minute. The graduate student ranked second on the team scoring three goals for a career-best total of six points. The team captain guided a defensive unit that recorded six shutouts and did not allow more than two goals in a single contest.
In his first appearance of the 2025 campaign, the Berlin, Germany native recorded his first-ever goal in his 49th collegiate appearance to lift St. John's past FDU, 1-0, on Sept. 11. The defender came up clutch once again netting the equalizer in the BIG EAST opener against Xavier for his second goal in a three-game span on Sept. 19. On Oct. 11, Nikolajewski jumpstarted a comeback sending home a penalty kick in the final minute of the half against Providence. The goal ignited a furious comeback as the Red Storm rallied from a 2-0 deficit to down the Friars at Cox Family Field at Belson Stadium.
Partey was the third Johnnie to earn All-BIG EAST recognition landing on the conference's third team/ After returning to the Red Storm for his graduate year, the Accra, Ghana native provided a huge boost the outside back position. The defender joins Gomes and forward Gabin Thomelier as the only St. John's players to record multiple goals and assists during the 2025 campaign.
Partey, who spent his third season with the Johnnies after winning a NJCAA National Championship at Monroe College appeared in 17 matches, making 15 starts. The veteran logged the best season of his St. John's career recording two goals, two assists and six points. The defender cleared away danger allowing opponents to just 53 shots on target over 18 matches and a goals against average of 0.94.
The graduate student provided helpers in home wins over New Hampshire (Aug. 28) and Sacred Heart (Sept. 14). Partey went onto scored the first two goals of his collegiate career in his final regular season contest. The outside back logged a brace in a 10-0 dominant victory over CCNY, marking the most goals for St. John's in a single-game in program history.
The Red Storm finished the regular season with a 9-5-4 overall record and earned three results against ranked opponents. The Johnnies will await their fate during the NCAA Men's Soccer Division I Tournament Selection on Nov. 17 at 1 p.m.
2025 BIG EAST Regular Season Awards
BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year
Stefan Dobrijevic, Akron, Sr., F
BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year
Zach Zengue, Georgetown, Sr., M ^
BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year
Agustin Resch, Seton Hall, Sr., D
BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year
Mitch Budler, Akron, Sr., GK
BIG EAST Freshman of the Year
Guilherme Gomes, St. John's, Fr., M
BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year
Georgetown
All-BIG EAST First Team *
Mitch Budler, Akron, Sr., GK
Stefan Dobrijevic, Akron, Sr., F ^
Daragh Reilly, Akron, Sr., D
Sabri Hanni, UConn, R-So., M
Miguel Arilla, Creighton, Jr., F
Mitchell Baker, Georgetown, So., F ^
Eric Howard, Georgetown, Jr., D
Zach Zengue, Georgetown, Sr., M ^
Diego Batista, Providence, Sr., M
Agustin Resch, Seton Hall, Sr., D
Bjorn Nikolajewski, St. John's, Sr., D
Cooper Forcellini, Xavier, Sr., M
All-BIG EAST Second Team
Matt Dreas, Akron, Jr., M
Kyle Durham, UConn, R-So., GK
Charlie Holmes, UConn, Sr., F
Ayoub Lajhar, UConn, Jr., D
Nicolas Tomerius, UConn, Sr. M
Matt Reed, Creighton, Jr., D
Diego Letayf, Georgetown, Sr., M
Charlie Dickerson, Providence, Gr, D
Bruno Rosa, Providence, Sr., F
Til Kauschke, Seton Hall, So., M
Mikkel Lejbowicz, Seton Hall, So., F
All-BIG EAST Third Team
Ashton Kamdem, Akron, Sr., D
Aiden Benitez, Butler, Fr. F
Austin Brummett, UConn, Sr., F
Omar Ramadan, Creighton, Gr., M
Andrija Savic, Creighton, Jr., D
Tenzing Manske, Georgetown, Sr., GK
Matthew Van Horn, Georgetown, Jr., M
Sam Montalto, Providence, Sr., F
Guilherme Gomes, St. John's, Fr., M
Godwin Partey, St. John's, Gr., D
Michael teDuits, Villanova, Gr., M
*Denotes a Tie in Voting
^Unanimous Vote
The Red Storm men's soccer program prolongs its streak of All-BIG EAST selection to a decade and the three honorees ties for the most since Johnnies had six in 2019, which matched the second most in program history.
Gomes burst onto the scene during his rookie year to become the first St. John's player to capture a major BIG EAST award since goalkeeper Luka Gavran in 2021. The Sao Paolo, Brazil native becomes the fourth player in program history to earn the honor joining Skage Simonsen (2018), Wojtek Krakowiak (1996) and Joey Krische (1985).
Traditionally a defender when he arrived in Queens over the summer, Gomes attacking presence moved him into the midfield as he quickly emerged as a scoring threat. The rookie led the team with eight goals, 18 points, 28 shots, 15 shots on target, three game-winning goals and two made penalty kicks. The midfielder's goal total ranks fifth amongst freshman across NCAA Division I and fourth in the BIG EAST. He led the league in game-winners with three against New Hampshire (Aug. 28), Providence (Oct. 11) and Monmouth (Oct. 21).
On Aug. 28 in a 5-0 win over New Hampshire, Gomes made history becoming the first-ever St. John's freshman and first player overall to score four goals in a single-game since Fred Bischoff tallied five on Oct. 23, 1982 against Iona. The Brazilian's four-goal outing was one just seven in NCAA Division I this and the only freshman to record four tallies in a single-match. Across the conference, Gomes became the first BIG EAST player to log four goals in an outing since Duncan McGuire of Creighton in a BIG EAST Tournament Semifinal match against Seton Hall on Nov. 10, 2022. He went onto be named TopDrawerSoccer National Player of the Week on Sept. 2, the first Johnnie to receive the honor since goaltender Lenny Wilson on Oct. 30, 2018.
Gomes racked up awards throughout the season as he was twice named BIG EAST Freshman of the Week, earned the league's offensive player of the week award once and was tabbed to the weekly honor roll on Monday.
A staple of the Red Storm backline, Nikolajewski was named to the All-BIG EAST First Team. The graduate student becomes the first St. John's defender to earn all-league first team honors since former Johnnie and current D.C. United player Lucas Bartlett in 2021.
After missing the first six games of the season due to an injury, Nikolajewski made an instant impact and started the next 11 games playing 946 of 990 possibles minute. The graduate student ranked second on the team scoring three goals for a career-best total of six points. The team captain guided a defensive unit that recorded six shutouts and did not allow more than two goals in a single contest.
In his first appearance of the 2025 campaign, the Berlin, Germany native recorded his first-ever goal in his 49th collegiate appearance to lift St. John's past FDU, 1-0, on Sept. 11. The defender came up clutch once again netting the equalizer in the BIG EAST opener against Xavier for his second goal in a three-game span on Sept. 19. On Oct. 11, Nikolajewski jumpstarted a comeback sending home a penalty kick in the final minute of the half against Providence. The goal ignited a furious comeback as the Red Storm rallied from a 2-0 deficit to down the Friars at Cox Family Field at Belson Stadium.
Partey was the third Johnnie to earn All-BIG EAST recognition landing on the conference's third team/ After returning to the Red Storm for his graduate year, the Accra, Ghana native provided a huge boost the outside back position. The defender joins Gomes and forward Gabin Thomelier as the only St. John's players to record multiple goals and assists during the 2025 campaign.
Partey, who spent his third season with the Johnnies after winning a NJCAA National Championship at Monroe College appeared in 17 matches, making 15 starts. The veteran logged the best season of his St. John's career recording two goals, two assists and six points. The defender cleared away danger allowing opponents to just 53 shots on target over 18 matches and a goals against average of 0.94.
The graduate student provided helpers in home wins over New Hampshire (Aug. 28) and Sacred Heart (Sept. 14). Partey went onto scored the first two goals of his collegiate career in his final regular season contest. The outside back logged a brace in a 10-0 dominant victory over CCNY, marking the most goals for St. John's in a single-game in program history.
The Red Storm finished the regular season with a 9-5-4 overall record and earned three results against ranked opponents. The Johnnies will await their fate during the NCAA Men's Soccer Division I Tournament Selection on Nov. 17 at 1 p.m.
2025 BIG EAST Regular Season Awards
BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year
Stefan Dobrijevic, Akron, Sr., F
BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year
Zach Zengue, Georgetown, Sr., M ^
BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year
Agustin Resch, Seton Hall, Sr., D
BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year
Mitch Budler, Akron, Sr., GK
BIG EAST Freshman of the Year
Guilherme Gomes, St. John's, Fr., M
BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year
Georgetown
All-BIG EAST First Team *
Mitch Budler, Akron, Sr., GK
Stefan Dobrijevic, Akron, Sr., F ^
Daragh Reilly, Akron, Sr., D
Sabri Hanni, UConn, R-So., M
Miguel Arilla, Creighton, Jr., F
Mitchell Baker, Georgetown, So., F ^
Eric Howard, Georgetown, Jr., D
Zach Zengue, Georgetown, Sr., M ^
Diego Batista, Providence, Sr., M
Agustin Resch, Seton Hall, Sr., D
Bjorn Nikolajewski, St. John's, Sr., D
Cooper Forcellini, Xavier, Sr., M
All-BIG EAST Second Team
Matt Dreas, Akron, Jr., M
Kyle Durham, UConn, R-So., GK
Charlie Holmes, UConn, Sr., F
Ayoub Lajhar, UConn, Jr., D
Nicolas Tomerius, UConn, Sr. M
Matt Reed, Creighton, Jr., D
Diego Letayf, Georgetown, Sr., M
Charlie Dickerson, Providence, Gr, D
Bruno Rosa, Providence, Sr., F
Til Kauschke, Seton Hall, So., M
Mikkel Lejbowicz, Seton Hall, So., F
All-BIG EAST Third Team
Ashton Kamdem, Akron, Sr., D
Aiden Benitez, Butler, Fr. F
Austin Brummett, UConn, Sr., F
Omar Ramadan, Creighton, Gr., M
Andrija Savic, Creighton, Jr., D
Tenzing Manske, Georgetown, Sr., GK
Matthew Van Horn, Georgetown, Jr., M
Sam Montalto, Providence, Sr., F
Guilherme Gomes, St. John's, Fr., M
Godwin Partey, St. John's, Gr., D
Michael teDuits, Villanova, Gr., M
*Denotes a Tie in Voting
^Unanimous Vote
Players Mentioned
Midfielder
/ Men's Soccer
Defender
/ Men's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Men's Soccer
Forward
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