NJAC WEEKLY AWARDS SUMMARY

PITMAN, NJ (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Sometimes a little change can make a big difference and in the case of New Jersey City University junior Tyler Krychkowski (North Arlington, NJ/North Arlington), the saying couldn't be better. Krychkowski, who was converted into a goalkeeper in the offseason after two years as a field player on all three lines, has been selected as the first New Jersey Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week of the 2014 season, the conference office announced on September 1.
 
Krychkowski, a 5-foot-11, 155-pounder who had appeared as a defender, midfielder and forward in 40 games (23 starts) in his first two years of college, had never played a second as a goalkeeper at any level prior to this weekend, but you would never be able to tell by the results.
 
Krychkowski made 16 saves in his two-game debut to force a pair of ties as NJCU opened the year 0-0-2 at the CSI Soccer Fall Classic. NJCU tied Trine, 0-0, and USMMA, 1-1, both in double overtime. It was the first time in the 56-year history of the program that the Gothic Knights opened a year with two straight ties.
 
Krychkowski did not allow a run of play goal in 220 minutes of action and opened his collegiate goalkeeping career with a 198:55 scoreless minutes streak. The only blemish was an 89^th minute penalty kick in the USMMA game—a strike he still was able to get a piece of.
 
In the two games he posted a .941 save percentage against 42 shots and a meager 0.41 goals against average.
 
In the 0-0 deadlock with Trine on August 30, Krychkowski made three saves in the double overtime contest, notching a shutout in his debut against nine shots.
 
Against USMMA on August 31, despite NJCU being outshot, 34-8, Krychkowski, in just his second collegiate game as a goalkeeper, made 13 saves including five in two overtime periods. NJCU was outshot 11-0 in the first half and 9-0 in overtime.
 
The 13 saves were the most by any Gothic Knight goalkeeper since Hall-of-Famer Jeff East `04 made 14 saves against Rowan University on October 28, 2000.

"He kept putting himself in great position," praised third-year head coach Patrick Snyder on Krychkowski's effort. "Over both days he made a lot of clearances that would have otherwise been more chances, using his feet. His field experience gives us another option on defense because they're comfortable playing the ball to him with his feet. It's helpful because he's as athletic as he and he saves balls from being corner kicks that other guys wouldn't be able to get to or wouldn't have thought to even try. He was very good for us this weekend."
 
Krychkowski was aided by a defensive unit that included junior Christopher Segovia (North Bergen, NJ/Memorial), sophomores Gabriel Freitas (Kearny, NJ/Kearny) and Hector Linares (Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne) and rookies Mohamed Elamin (Jersey City, NJ/Ferris) and Juan Alvarez (Haledon, NJ/Passaic County Tech) in the back with senior Michael Cedeno (North Bergen, NJ/Memorial) and freshman Marco Campos (Union, NJ/St. Benedict's Prep) chipping in as holding center midfielders.
 
Krychkowski, an undecided major who works in the sports information office on campus in the offseason, is the first Gothic Knight to be the NJAC Defensive Player of the Week since Ruben Morales on September 23, 2013 in week four.