St. John's University Athletics
Guilherme Gomes and Bjorn Nikolajewski Earn All-ECAC Honors
12/12/2025 10:50:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Gomes tabbed ECAC Rookie of the Year; both players earned second team honors
DANBURY, Conn. – St. John's men's soccer standouts Guilherme Gomes and Bjorn Nikolajewski were honored by the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) on Friday. Gomes was tabbed as the Rookie of the Year and both players landed on the All-ECAC Second Team.
The ECAC recognizes the top players in NCAA Division I across the Northeast Region. Gomes was one of five major award winners. The freshman burst onto the scene leading the Johnnies in goals (9), points (20), shots (31), shots on goal (17) and game-winning goals (3).
The Sao Paolo, Brazil native became the fourth Red Storm player to be named BIG EAST Freshman of the Year and emerged as one of the top rookies in all of NCAA Division I Soccer. The midfielder ranked sixth in the country in goals per game (0.50) amongst freshman and tallied the highest goal total by a St. John's rookie since Fred Bischoff recorded 12 in 1979.
Gomes exploded for four goals in just his third collegiate game against New Hampshire marking a St. John's freshman record and the first player to reach the four-goal mark in one match since Bischoff against Iona on Oct. 23, 1982. The rookie is tied for the national lead for the highest goal total in a single-game this season.
Nikolajewski, an All-BIG EAST First Team selection was a staple of the St. John's backline this season. After missing the first six games of the season due to injury, the graduate student played 1,040 minutes starting all 12 matches. The team captain ranked second on the team with four goals and went 2-for-2 from the penalty spot.
The Red Storm men's soccer program made its 23rd NCAA Tournament appearance earning an at-large bid. The Johnnies finished the 2025 campaign with 9-6-4 overall record.
2025 ECAC Division I Men's Soccer Major Awards
Offensive Player of the Year
Laurie Goddard – Hofstra University, Sr., M
Defensive Player of the Year
Niklas Herceg – University of Vermont, So., GK
Rookie of the Year
Guilherme Gomes – St. John's University, Fr., M
Coach of the Year
Rob Dow- University of Vermont
ECAC Division I Men's Soccer All-ECAC First Team
Arnau Rabassa Guillamon – Fairleigh Dickinson, Sr., F
Tim Strele – Saint Peter's University, Sr., F
Marius Stenner – University of Delaware, So., F
David Ismail – University of New Hampshire, Sr., F
Jaime Amaro – Bryant University, So., M
Laurie Goddard – Hofstra University, Sr., M
Rich Monath – University of Delaware, Jr., M
Abdel Talabi – Bryant University, Gr., D
Jamie Orson – Stony Brook University, Gr., D
Connor Dawson – University of Pennsylvania, Jr., D
Niklas Herceg – University of Vermont, So., GK
ECAC Division I Men's Soccer All-ECAC Second Team
Daniel Burko – Hofstra University, Gr., F
Lucas Almeida – Siena University, Jr., F
Mikey Johnson – University of Delaware, Sr., F
Guilherme Gomes – St. John's University, Fr., M
Daniel D'Ippolito – Fordham University, Sr., M
Patrick Cayelli – University of Pennsylvania, Sr., M
Joschi Schelb – Rutgers University, Jr., M
Daniel Lang – Fordham University, Rs-Fr., D
Bjorn Nikolajewski – St. John's University, Gr., D
Kelly Cooper – Army, Jr., D
JoJo Elliott Jr. – University of Delaware, Fr., GK
The ECAC recognizes the top players in NCAA Division I across the Northeast Region. Gomes was one of five major award winners. The freshman burst onto the scene leading the Johnnies in goals (9), points (20), shots (31), shots on goal (17) and game-winning goals (3).
The Sao Paolo, Brazil native became the fourth Red Storm player to be named BIG EAST Freshman of the Year and emerged as one of the top rookies in all of NCAA Division I Soccer. The midfielder ranked sixth in the country in goals per game (0.50) amongst freshman and tallied the highest goal total by a St. John's rookie since Fred Bischoff recorded 12 in 1979.
Gomes exploded for four goals in just his third collegiate game against New Hampshire marking a St. John's freshman record and the first player to reach the four-goal mark in one match since Bischoff against Iona on Oct. 23, 1982. The rookie is tied for the national lead for the highest goal total in a single-game this season.
Nikolajewski, an All-BIG EAST First Team selection was a staple of the St. John's backline this season. After missing the first six games of the season due to injury, the graduate student played 1,040 minutes starting all 12 matches. The team captain ranked second on the team with four goals and went 2-for-2 from the penalty spot.
The Red Storm men's soccer program made its 23rd NCAA Tournament appearance earning an at-large bid. The Johnnies finished the 2025 campaign with 9-6-4 overall record.
2025 ECAC Division I Men's Soccer Major Awards
Offensive Player of the Year
Laurie Goddard – Hofstra University, Sr., M
Defensive Player of the Year
Niklas Herceg – University of Vermont, So., GK
Rookie of the Year
Guilherme Gomes – St. John's University, Fr., M
Coach of the Year
Rob Dow- University of Vermont
ECAC Division I Men's Soccer All-ECAC First Team
Arnau Rabassa Guillamon – Fairleigh Dickinson, Sr., F
Tim Strele – Saint Peter's University, Sr., F
Marius Stenner – University of Delaware, So., F
David Ismail – University of New Hampshire, Sr., F
Jaime Amaro – Bryant University, So., M
Laurie Goddard – Hofstra University, Sr., M
Rich Monath – University of Delaware, Jr., M
Abdel Talabi – Bryant University, Gr., D
Jamie Orson – Stony Brook University, Gr., D
Connor Dawson – University of Pennsylvania, Jr., D
Niklas Herceg – University of Vermont, So., GK
ECAC Division I Men's Soccer All-ECAC Second Team
Daniel Burko – Hofstra University, Gr., F
Lucas Almeida – Siena University, Jr., F
Mikey Johnson – University of Delaware, Sr., F
Guilherme Gomes – St. John's University, Fr., M
Daniel D'Ippolito – Fordham University, Sr., M
Patrick Cayelli – University of Pennsylvania, Sr., M
Joschi Schelb – Rutgers University, Jr., M
Daniel Lang – Fordham University, Rs-Fr., D
Bjorn Nikolajewski – St. John's University, Gr., D
Kelly Cooper – Army, Jr., D
JoJo Elliott Jr. – University of Delaware, Fr., GK
Players Mentioned
Midfielder
/ Men's Soccer
Defender
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