EMCC sophomore Leonardo Reyes has been named the NJCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Player of the Week for his efforts in helping lead the Lions to three straight wins to begin the 2009 campaign. The announcement was made by the NJCAA office headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colo.
The 5-foot-11 midfielder/forward opened the season by netting his first career collegiate hat trick with three goals in East Mississippi’s 9-1 season-opening home win over East Central. The native of Arima, Trinidad followed with two more goals in the team’s 2-1 home victory over Copiah-Lincoln. Reyes capped the opening week of play by scoring two more times and assisting on two other goals in EMCC’s 7-3 road triumph over East Central.
With 16 total points on seven goals and two assists for head coach Junior Noel’s 3-1 EMCC Lions, Reyes entered the current week ranked second nationally in scoring behind Javier Torres of Heartland Community College.
A year ago for the Lady Lions, EMCC’s then-freshman and fellow Trinidad native Nikeisha Noel collected NJCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Player of the Week honors en route to garnering NJCAA All-Region 23 accolades at season’s end.