A happy Antek Sienkiel after he registered his hat-trick last week. (Photo courtesy of St. John’s)
After recording a hat-trick in 51 minutes on Friday evening against Lehigh University, St. John’s redshirt junior midfielder Antek Sienkiel has been named the Big East offensive player of the week, it was announced by the conference office on Monday afternoon.
Sienkiel netted three of the Red Storm’s first four goals in a 5-0 victory at Belson Stadium, recording the 21st hat-trick in Red Storm men’s Soccer history and the first since Andrei Gatsmanov last accomplished the feat in 2004.
Miguel Diaz set up Sienkiel’s first two goals before Sienkiel buried a Wesley Leggett rebound for the third a few minutes into the second half.
Entering the match, Sienkiel had recorded two goals and two assists for six points in his first 40 collegiate appearances.
Sienkiel, a second team All-Metro Atlantic Athletic Association selection at Marist last season, also had a strong performance in the Red Storm’s 1-0 home loss to No. 18 FIU last Monday night, putting both of his shots on goal. St. John’s outshot the Panthers, 15-3.
Sienkiel became the first Johnnie to take home Big East offensive player of the week honors since Tani Oluwaseyi on Oct. 4, 2019. Oluwaseyi, taken 17th in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft by Minnesota United FC, went on to win Big East offensive player of the year accolades that season.
