FLUSHING, N.Y. – The Queens College men's soccer team went 2-0 on the week, earning back-to-back victories with a comeback win over No. 6 Wilmington University before opening East Coast Conference play with a shutout victory over Roberts Wesleyan University. With the two victories, the Knights improved to 6-1-1 overall and 1-0 in ECC play.
 
For the fourth consecutive week, head coach Frank Vertullo and the Knights are ranked in the United Soccer Coaches East Region Poll, earning a program-best No. 2 ranking in the East Region. After receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 Poll during each of the first eight seasons under Vertullo, the 2026 squad became the first team in program history to earn a national ranking, landing at No. 16.
 
Through eight matches, the Knights have scored 22 goals, averaging 2.75 goals per contest while registering 18.0 shots per match.
 
Sophomore Bradyn Brown was named ECC Offensive Player of the Week after recording a team-best six points during No. 5 Queens' 2-0 week. Brown is the second Knight this season to earn ECC Offensive Player of the Week honors, following senior Tommy Gunn's recognition on Sept. 7. Brown opened the week with a season-best four-point performance, scoring his second goal and game-winning goal of the season while adding two assists in the Knights' 3-1 victory over No. 6 Wilmington. Brown concluded the week with his third goal of the season as Queens defeated defending ECC Champion Roberts Wesleyan, 3-0, in its conference opener Saturday afternoon. Brown has recorded three goals and a team-best five assists for a team-tying 11 total points.
 
Senior Anton Mand was named ECC Defensive Player of the Week for the second consecutive week. Mand helped No. 5 Queens complete an undefeated week with victories over No. 6 Wilmington and defending ECC Champion Roberts Wesleyan. Against Wilmington, Mand recorded his first assist of the season, delivering a long ball for Brown to blast home the game-winning goal, while the Knights limited the Wildcats to eight shots over 90 minutes. In the 3-0 ECC-opening victory over Roberts Wesleyan, Mand and the Knights held the Redhawks to just two shots overall, none of which were on target.
 
Sophomore Marko Borovic was named to the ECC Honor Roll for the first time this season after recording five points on two goals and one assist during the Knights' 2-0 week. With Queens trailing Wilmington, 1-0, Borovic tied the contest in the 67th minute with a blast into the top-left corner. Borovic then opened ECC play in style, scoring his first game-winning goal of the season with a perfect strike into the top-right corner in the 34th minute against Roberts Wesleyan. He concluded the week with an assist on Taro Aboubakary's third goal of the season as the Knights defeated the defending ECC champions, 3-0.
 
For the third consecutive week, a Knights goalkeeper earned an ECC weekly honor, as sophomore Stian Haugland was named Rookie of the Week for the first time this season. Haugland went 2-0 while helping Queens record a combined shutout during its undefeated week. Haugland opened the week with three saves as the Knights earned a 3-1 comeback victory over No. 6 Wilmington Wednesday night. In the ECC opener against defending ECC Champion Roberts Wesleyan, Haugland and the Knights held the Redhawks to just two shots overall as Queens earned a 3-0 shutout victory.
 
The duo of Gunn and Aboubakary have combined for 18 points, recording seven goals and four assists, with Gunn recording one game-winning tally.
 
The Knights open the week by continuing ECC play as they welcome the College of Staten Island Dolphins to town Wednesday evening. Following Wednesday's matchup, the Knights will hit the road to Worcester for a non-conference tilt against Assumption University Greyhounds Saturday afternoon.

College of Staten Island Preview

The Dolphins enter the week with an overall record of 2-3-1 and 0-0-1 in ECC play and are coming off a scoreless draw against D'Youville University in their conference opener.
 
Wednesday's meeting will be the seventh all-time between the two sides, with the Knights leading the series, 6-0. Last season, Queens earned a 2-1 road victory over Staten Island.

Assumption University Preview

The Greyhounds enter the week with an overall record of 4-1-1 and are coming off a 3-2 victory over Saint Michael's College in their conference opener. Assumption will face Bentley University on Wednesday before hosting the Knights Saturday afternoon.
 
Saturday's meeting will mark the seventh all-time matchup between the two sides, with Queens trailing the series, 1-5. The Knights are seeking their second-ever victory over the Greyhounds and their first road victory in the series. The two sides are meeting for the first time since the 2024 season.

NEXT WEEK OUTLOOK

Following Saturday's road contest, Queens will open a two-match homestand, beginning with a non-conference tilt against Franklin Pierce University before returning to ECC play against the University of the District of Columbia on Saturday afternoon.

For the latest news on Queens College Athletics, follow the Knights at queensknights.com or via social media on Facebook (Queens College Athletics), X (Formerly Twitter) (@QCKnights), and Instagram (qcknightsny), men's soccer (qcmsoccer).