Stony Brook Men’s Soccer freshman midfielder Serge Gamwanya found sophomore forward Vince Erdei for the game-winning goal in Friday’s Senior Night win over Binghamton in overtime, but the match was not all that the Seawolves won. On Monday, the America East Conference announced that Erdei was named the Co-America East Player of the Week while Gamwanya was crowned the America East Rookie of the Week.
It was the first conference award given to Erdei, who helped the Seawolves to arguably their best week of the season. Stony Brook defeated Long Island-rival and No. 17-ranked Hoftsra on Tuesday in Hempstead, taking down the Pride 3-0 for its first win over a ranked opponent since the team defeated No. 25 Boston University in 2006.
Erdei scored twice in the game, the first time in the 24th minute of the match to give the Seawolves the lead, and again in the 82nd minute to virtually put the contest away.
He was not done for the week, though, as Erdei clinched the Seawolves’ spot in the postseason when he poked Gamwanya’s pass into the back of the net in front of a crowd of 318 in Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium against Binghamton.
It was Gamwanya, who won his second Rookie of the Week honor, who sent the game into overtime in the first place. He buried a shot from 25 yards out in the 87th minute to keep the Seawolves’ hopes alive.
Both student-athletes rank near the top of the America East in various statistical categories. Erdei is second in the conference in both goals scored and total points, with eight scores and four assists on the season.
Gamwanya is tied for third in the America East with five assists, while he is tied for tenth in points with 11.
Stony Brook will travel to Baltimore on Wednesday night for a matchup with defending College Cup semifinalist UMBC in the Seawolves’ final regular season match.