NJIT men's soccer was well represented among the 2026 America East Men's Soccer postseason honors, highlighted by Diogo Rebelo earning Striker of the Year and Maximus Barboto being named Midfielder of the Year, the conference office announced on Friday.
The Highlanders collected six total All-Conference selections, with Rebelo and Barboto also earning First Team All-America East recognition, while Eric Sadlocha was named to the Second Team and Riley Davis and Zain Thompson earned All-Rookie Team honors. Rebelo and Junee Lee also garnered All-Academic Team recognition, capping an impressive season of achievement for the Highlanders both on the field and in the classroom.
Rebelo becomes just the second player in program history to earn America East Striker of the Year honors, joining Regsan Watkins (Spring 2021), while Barboto claims his second career major America East award after being named Rookie of the Year in 2022.
Diogo Rebelo, Striker of the Year, First Team, All-Academic Team
Rebelo enjoyed a standout season for NJIT, earning America East Striker of the Year, First Team All-America East, and All-Academic Team honors. A dynamic offensive presence, Rebelo led the America East in goals (9), points (23), shots (69) and shots on goal (23). His 69 shots ranked fourth nationally, while he also earned America East Player of the Week recognition once during the season.
Rebelo delivered one of the most memorable individual performances in NJIT program history in the Highlanders' 6-3 victory over New Hampshire on October 10, 2026. He recorded one goal and four assists for six points, establishing a new NJIT Division I single-game record for assists while tying the America East single-game record. His four assists also tied for the most in a single match in the NCAA. The performance was one assist shy of NJIT's all-time single-game record of five, set by Myron Worobec in 1964, and placed Rebelo in a tie for second on the program's all-time list alongside Andy Handweker (1962) and Jose Dias (1974). His six-point effort was the most by an NJIT player in a single match since Regsan Watkins recorded six points against Stony Brook on April 2, 2021.
He capped the regular season with another impressive performance, scoring twice at UMBC on November 5, 2026, in a 3-3 draw.
Equally impressive in the classroom, Rebelo majors in Civil Engineering and maintains a 3.90 GPA. A four-time Dean's List honoree, he earned All-Academic Team recognition while demonstrating excellence both on the field and academically.
Maximus Barboto, Midfielder of the Year, First Team
Barboto put together an impressive season in the midfield for NJIT, earning America East Midfielder of the Year and First Team All-America East honors. A key contributor to the Highlanders' offensive attack, Barboto is tied for first in the America East with seven assists and finished the regular season with four goals and seven assists.
A consistent playmaker throughout the season, Barboto recorded points in six consecutive games, totaling three goals and four assists during the stretch. He also contributed a goal and an assist in NJIT's 6-3 victory over New Hampshire on October 10, 2026.
With 20 career assists, he holds the NJIT Division I program record. His seven assists this season rank among the top single-season performances in program history, just two shy of the NJIT Division I single-season record of nine, set by Barboto himself in 2023.
Eric Sadlocha, Second Team
Sadlocha earned Second Team All-America East honors following a strong season as a key contributor on the NJIT backline. A versatile presence for the Highlanders, Sadlocha also made an impact offensively, recording four goals and eight points on the season.
Sadlocha delivered a standout performance in NJIT's 6-3 victory over New Hampshire on October 10, 2026, scoring twice to help lead the Highlanders' offensive attack. His contributions on both ends of the field earned him America East Defensive Player of the Week honors once during the season.
A dependable presence defensively, Sadlocha played an important role in a Highlanders backline that recorded three shutouts during the season, helping anchor NJIT's defensive efforts throughout the campaign.
Riley Davis, All-Rookie Team
Davis earned a spot on the All-Rookie team, playing an important role in the NJIT backline, providing consistency and defensive stability throughout the season while contributing to the Highlanders' offensive attack. Davis finished the season with three assists and three points, impacting the game on both ends of the field.
He recorded an assist in three consecutive matches on October 10, October 13 and October 17, showcasing his consistency and ability to create scoring opportunities for his teammates.
Davis helped anchor a backline that recorded three shutouts during the season.
Zain Thompson, All-Rookie Team
Thompson was selected to the All-Rookie team and made an immediate impact in his collegiate career with NJIT, finishing the season with four goals, two assists and 10 points. His strong performances earned him America East Rookie of the Week honors twice, recognizing his contributions to the Highlanders' offensive attack.
Thompson recorded his first collegiate assist against Manhattan on August 28, 2026, marking an early milestone in his freshman campaign. He followed that performance by scoring his first collegiate goal against Rider on September 4, 2026, continuing to establish himself as an important offensive contributor for the Highlanders.
He combined for four goals and two assists on the season.
Junee Lee, All-Academic Team
Lee earned All-Academic Team recognition following a productive season for NJIT, appearing in all 17 matches for the Highlanders. A consistent contributor throughout the campaign, Lee recorded three goals and one assist for seven points, making an impact on the offensive end.
Lee showcased his scoring ability with back-to-back goals in matches against La Salle on October 13, 2026, and UAlbany on October 17, 2026.
Lee also excelled in the classroom as a Business major, maintaining an impressive 3.87 GPA.
NJIT Men's Soccer Accolades in the America East
2026
Diogo Rebelo, Striker of the Year, First Team, All-Academic Team
Maximus Barboto, Midfielder of the Year, First Team
Eric Sadlocha, Second Team
Riley Davis, All-Rookie Team
Zain Thompson, All-Rookie Team
Junee Lee, All-Academic Team
2025
Diogo Rebelo, All-Rookie Team
Sergio Martinez Cubel, All-Academic Team
Devin Armstrong, All-Academic Team
2024
Andrew Araya, All-Rookie Team
Eric Sadlocha, All-Rookie Team
Devin Armstrong, All-Academic Team
Sergio Martinez Cubel, All-Academic Team
2023
Maximus Barboto, First Team
Alvaro Heredia, Second Team
Cristian LoGrasso, All-Rookie Team
Samuel Reisgys, All-Academic Team
2022
Maximus Barboto - Rookie of the Year; All-Rookie team
Andrea Campoli - All-Rookie team
Hugo Tavares - All-Rookie team
Samuel Reisgys - All-Academic team
Fall 2021
Rene White - First Team; All-Academic team
Regsan Watkins - Second Team
Goncalo Franco - All-Rookie team
Jose Adames - All-Academic team
Joao Costa - All-Academic team
Samuel Reisgys - All-Academic team
Spring 2021
Regsan Watkins - Striker of the Year, First Team, All-Academic team
Rene White - First team; All-Academic team
Alejandro Rabell - Second Team
Jose Escandon - All-Rookie team
