St. John's University Athletics
Ivar Nå Aga Named BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week; Brage Birkelund Eie Tabbed to Honor Roll
8/24/2026 2:09:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Pair of Johnnies recognized by the league after 5-0 rout over Loyola Maryland in season opener
NEW YORK– Following a convincing season opening victory, Ivar Nå Aga was named BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week and Brage Birkelund Eie was tabbed to the league's weekly honor roll, the conference office announced on Monday afternoon.
The Norwegian duo delivered standout efforts leading the Red Storm to a 5-0 victory over Loyola Maryland on Thursday, the program's largest margin of victory in a season opener since the beginning of the 1995 campaign.
Nå Aga earns defensive player of the week honors after an impressive start to the campaign. The defender was the only Red Storm field player to play all 90 minutes and notched an assist on the Johnnies' fourth goal. Defensively, the Odda, Norway native captained a lockdown effort not allowing a single Greyhounds strike on target.
The team captain earns the first weekly honors of his St. John's career and becomes the first Red Storm player to be named BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week since Antonio Biggs on Oct. 28, 2024. Nå Aga appeared in 16 matches, making 15 starts during the Johnnies run to the NCAA Tournament last year. He finished the year with one goal, one assist and three points in 2025.
In his collegiate debut, Birkelund Eie logged two goals, one assist and five points in 63 minutes of action at Ridley Athletic Complex. The Oslo, Norway native was one of five players in NCAA Division I to record five points through one match and currently ranks tied for seventh nationally in that category.
Birkelund Eie wasted little time getting on the board in Baltimore. Just 8:36 into the match the rookie fired a 20-yard strike as the result of a beautiful combination play to put the Johnnies in front in they never looked back. In the 25th minute, the forward setup teammate Xavi Abeijon for a no-look back heel feed to Andrew Porucznik for the Red Storm's second tally.
In the second half, Birkelund Eie secured the brace after knocking home off an assist from Nå Aga in the 73rd minute as St. John's lead stretch to four. The freshman recorded two shots both on target in his first appearance in the Red & White.
The St. John's men's soccer team will be back in action on Thursday night when it visits New Hampshire for a 7 p.m. kick-off from the UNH Soccer Complex.
The Norwegian duo delivered standout efforts leading the Red Storm to a 5-0 victory over Loyola Maryland on Thursday, the program's largest margin of victory in a season opener since the beginning of the 1995 campaign.
Nå Aga earns defensive player of the week honors after an impressive start to the campaign. The defender was the only Red Storm field player to play all 90 minutes and notched an assist on the Johnnies' fourth goal. Defensively, the Odda, Norway native captained a lockdown effort not allowing a single Greyhounds strike on target.
The team captain earns the first weekly honors of his St. John's career and becomes the first Red Storm player to be named BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week since Antonio Biggs on Oct. 28, 2024. Nå Aga appeared in 16 matches, making 15 starts during the Johnnies run to the NCAA Tournament last year. He finished the year with one goal, one assist and three points in 2025.
In his collegiate debut, Birkelund Eie logged two goals, one assist and five points in 63 minutes of action at Ridley Athletic Complex. The Oslo, Norway native was one of five players in NCAA Division I to record five points through one match and currently ranks tied for seventh nationally in that category.
Birkelund Eie wasted little time getting on the board in Baltimore. Just 8:36 into the match the rookie fired a 20-yard strike as the result of a beautiful combination play to put the Johnnies in front in they never looked back. In the 25th minute, the forward setup teammate Xavi Abeijon for a no-look back heel feed to Andrew Porucznik for the Red Storm's second tally.
In the second half, Birkelund Eie secured the brace after knocking home off an assist from Nå Aga in the 73rd minute as St. John's lead stretch to four. The freshman recorded two shots both on target in his first appearance in the Red & White.
The St. John's men's soccer team will be back in action on Thursday night when it visits New Hampshire for a 7 p.m. kick-off from the UNH Soccer Complex.
Players Mentioned
MID/FWD
/ Men's Soccer
FWD
/ Men's Soccer
Defender
/ Men's Soccer
MID
/ Men's SoccerThursday, August 20
Thursday, November 20
Monday, November 17
Saturday, October 11