Freshman forward/midfielder Matt Paradise (Pittsburgh, PA), who has made immense contributions for the Blackbirds in the young season, today was selected a repeat winner as Northeast Conference Rookie of the Week.

Paradise began his award-winning effort Monday in a 4-0 rout of Fordham by scoring twice in just over three minutes, lifting LIU to its third straight win. Following a 1-0 loss Thursday to Santa Clara in the opener of the Adidas Classic, Paradise tallied Saturday in a 2-1 setback against San Francisco. He and freshman Jonas Stigh (Trollhattan, Sweden) were named to the All-Tournament team.

The team leader with six goals, 12 points and 18 shots, Paradise won the award on September 10 after scoring a goal apiece against Temple and Fairleigh Dickinson. No award was given last week following the national tragedy.

Paradise is one of eight newcomers that start for LIU and that group has combined to score 12 of the team’s 13 goals.

Paradise finished last year with 26 goals and 30 assists as a senior at Plum H.S. and was a first team all-state selection. The regional All-American also was named to the Region 1 ODP pool as a member of the Western Pennsylvania Olympic Development Team.

The Blackbirds (3-3-1, 1-0 NEC), who have equaled their overall win total from all last season, return to action Friday against Robert Morris at the Met Oval in Queens, NY. Game time is 1:00 pm.