EDISON, NJ – A year after the Rider University men's soccer team set a new program record with eight All-MAAC honorees, the team has one-upped itself. While matching the program record with eight All-MAAC honorees once again, junior forward Momo Diop (Thies, Senegal/Prive Serigne Touba) earned the Golden Boot, junior goalkeeper Adam Salama (Ramle, Israel/Orthodox [Ottawa Univ.]) won the Golden Glove and Head Coach Chad Duernberger was selected Coach of the Year.

Joining Diop and Salama on the All-MAAC First Team was graduate forward Bryan Akongo (London, England/Harris Academy Orpington [Georgia State/Robert Morris]). The three First Team honorees tied for most in the league, while Rider's four Second Team selections – midfielders Adel Al Masude (Brussels, Belgium/GO Lyceum Gent) and Theo Da Silva (Sao Paulo, Brazil/University of Rio Grande) and defenders Jack McGeechan (Allendale, NJ/Northern Highlands Regional) and Martin Chladek (Prague, Czech Republic/Gymnazium Voderadska [Montevallo]) – were most in the conference. Rounding out the Broncs' honorees was graduate midfielder Andrew Erickson (San Antonio, TX/International School of the Americas [Kentucky]) on the Third Team.

Representative of the league's top offensive player, the MAAC Golden Boot went to Diop after he led the league with nine goals and 22 points. The 2023 MAAC Championship MVP scored three game-winning goals this season and contributed four goals and three assists in league play. He was selected MAAC Offensive Player of the Week on Nov. 4 after scoring against both Marist and Mount St. Mary's, while also adding an assist against the Red Foxes in the final week of the regular season. Diop had a point in six of eight league matches in 2024. In non-conference play, Diop had a goal in four-straight games and a point in five straight as the Broncs reeled off a six-match winning streak. Diop earned All-MAAC First Team honors for the second-straight season.

Salama has posted arguably the finest season in program history by a goalkeeper. He's set a new program record with eight shutouts, a number that would only grow to nine had he played out the final minutes of a 4-0 win at George Washington in non-conference play. He ranks fourth nationally with a 0.65 goals-against average and also ranks in the Top 20 nationally in saves percentage at .807. In league play, Salama allowed just four goals, with two coming on penalty kicks. He had a 0.50 goals-against average and a .778 saves percentage, posting five shutouts.

Since taking over a program that posted a 3-8-6 record (.353 winning percentage) in 2022, Duernberger has led the Broncs to a 25-8-5 record (.724 winning percentage) in his two seasons leading the Rider men's soccer team. He led the Broncs to the MAAC Tournament Championship in his first year of 2023, before guiding Rider to a share of its first MAAC Regular Season Championship since 1997 this season. His 16 All-MAAC selections over two seasons are unprecedented. Under Duernberger's tutelage, the Broncs rank third in goals scored (29), while allowing a league-low 13 goals this season.

Akongo has been a welcome addition to the Rider offense this season after spending time at Robert Morris and Georgia State. He's contributed six goals and a team-high five assists, both good for fifth in the MAAC, while his 17 points rank fourth in the league. Five of his six goals have been game winners, tied for most in the nation and two more than the closest league player. Akongo got the Broncs' season rolling with the game-winning goal late at Stony Brook on Aug. 29, sparking a six-game winning streak in which he contributed at least one point in all six wins. He scored the game-winning goal in consecutive matches against Quinnipiac (Oct. 12) and Fairfield (Oct. 19) and assisted on Ezra Punselie's (Nieuw-Vennep, Netherlands/Zaanlands Lyceum) game-winning goal at Manhattan (Oct. 30). Akongo was named MAAC Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 21 following his game-winner at Fairfield.

Al Masude earned his second All-MAAC honor in as many years, taking Second Team this year after being named to the First Team in 2023. He contributed a goal and two assists in 2024. He scored the game-winner at La Salle on Sept. 17, while also chipping in with assists in a win over NJIT on Sept. 14 and a tie against Marist on Nov. 2.

Da Silva quickly proved to be a fit in his first season in the Broncs' midfield, scoring three goals and tying for the team lead with five assists, which also ranks fifth in the MAAC. He scored in his Rider debut, a 3-1 win over Saint Joseph's on Sept. 2, before contributing two assists in his second game, a 4-0 win at George Washington on Sept. 7. He scored his first goal in league play at Merrimack (Oct. 5) and has added assists against league opposition against Manhattan (Oct. 30), Mount St. Mary's (Nov. 6) and Sacred Heart (Nov. 10 – MAAC Quarterfinals).  

McGeechan jumped from the Third Team a year ago to the Second Team in 2024. A goal line to goal line energy player, McGeechan's effort translated on the stat sheet in 2024 with three goals and an assist, all in league play. In a 2-0 win over Quinnipiac on Oct. 12, McGeechan contributed a goal, an assist, and cleared two shots off the goal line, leading to MAAC Offensive Player of the Week honors. He also scored the game winner against Siena on Oct. 26 and added a goal in a 2-2 tie with Marist on Nov. 2.

McGeechan, Chladek and Erickson have played invaluable roles on a Rider defense that's allowed just 13 goals, posted a 0.72 goals-against average and nine shutouts, all league bests. Both Chladek and Erickson have played every minute of every game (1,632) for the Broncs, making 18 starts each.    

The second-seeded Broncs return to action Thursday, when they play host to third-seeded Siena in the MAAC Semifinals. Kickoff from Ben Cohen Field is scheduled for 7 p.m. on ESPN+.