NYS BECOMES FIRST NORTHEAST MEN’S SOCCER STUDENT-ATHLETE TO BE NAMED NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Northeast Community College men's soccer student-athlete Edouard Nys (Dottignies, Belgium) was named 2024 Junior College Men's DII Player of the Year, it was announced by United Soccer Coaches Wednesday. Nys became the first Northeast men's soccer student-athlete in the history of the program to win the award.

Nys dominated NJCAA DII Men's Soccer throughout his sophomore season as he led the nation in goals, assists and points. Nys scored 31 goals, assisted 27 others and had 89 points, which were 19 more than his closest competitor. Nys scored two goals and two assists at the 2024 NJCAA Men's Soccer Championship in Huntsville, Alabama, including the game-winning penalty kick against No. 1 Pima Community College in the national semifinal to help the Hawks secure the first NJCAA national title in school history.

In 2024, Nys was named ICCAC Athlete of the Week three different times, earned First Team All-Region honors, placed on to both the Region 11 All-Tournament Team and the NJCAA DII Men's Soccer Championship All-Tournament Team, won 2024 NJCAA DII Men's Soccer Championship Tournament MVP and was named NJCAA First Team All-American.

Northeast men's soccer coach Adam Potter was thrilled to see Nys rewarded for his efforts on the pitch this season.

"It's very well deserved, there's no doubt about it," Potter said. "There's no one else it should have been. I am very excited for Edouard and all of the work that he has dedicated throughout his time here. We saw the hard work and the time he put in last offseason and in the summer. He came back and took even another step forward from where he was at his freshman year."

Potter has appreciated everything Nys has brought to the program the last two seasons.

"His whole mindset and approach with the 'Winners Win' mentality is great to see on the field," Potter said. "He was a captain for us, and that became contagious to everyone around him. I couldn't be more proud to see him hold that award up and be the first student-athlete in Northeast men's soccer history to win national player of the year. Huge kudos to him."

Nys has signed to continue his academic and athletic career at the University of Illinois Chicago in Chicago, Illinois, a NCAA DI institution that competes in the Missouri Valley Conference. Potter is looking forward to seeing what Nys will accomplish during the next chapter of his career.

"He has really grown and matured and has a mindset to continue doing big things as he goes on in his career," Potter said. "I'm so excited to watch him grow and develop at the next level. He has the mindset that nothing is going to stop him to get to where he wants to go. He is going to work so hard to chase those things and I know he is going to go and get them. I can't wait to sit back, grab a bag of popcorn and watch him accomplish those goals that he is chasing."

In total, Nys' career accomplishments with the Hawks include being named Northeast Athletics 2023-24 Male Athlete of the Year, earning five ICCAC Athlete of the Year honors, becoming a two-time First Team All-Region player, being named Offensive MVP of the Region 11 Tournament in 2023, appearing on the Region 11 All-Tournament Team in 2024, making the NJCAA DII Men's Soccer Championship All-Tournament Team in both 2023 and 2024, winning 2024 NJCAA DII Men's Soccer Championship Tournament MVP, being named First Team All-American twice and now becoming the first national player of the year in the history of the Northeast men's soccer program.

Nys was part of the winningest sophomore class in school history, finishing his career with a record of 43-3-5, including two Region 11 Regular Season Championships, a Region 11 Tournament Championship in 2023, the Plains District Championship in 2023 and six wins at the national tournament, including four victories at the 2024 NJCCA Men's Soccer Championship to become national champions.  

Nys will be formally presented the award at the All-America Ceremony and Reception on Saturday, January 11, 2025, in Chicago, Illinois that is held in conjunction with the annual United Soccer Coaches Convention.

HAWKS HAPPENINGS:

For all the latest information on Northeast Hawks Athletics, please visit northeasthawks.com. For updates and other exciting content, follow:

@northeastcchawks on Facebook

@northeasthawks on Instagram

@northeasthawks on TikTok

@NortheastHawks on Twitter/X

@NortheastCCMS on Twitter/X