Duo join 1,000 point club

Senior Martin Soaries scored his 1,000th career point for the Eastern Eagles Men’s Basketball team. This was also a game in which Martin scored a season high of 21 points and led his team to a victory over the FDU-Florham Devils.

Going into the game, Soaries had 994 points, only six points away. Once the game started, he came out shooting.

“Everyone knew I was only six points away and I just wanted to get the 1,000th point as early as possible so the burden would be gone,” Soaries said. He had plays called to him to start the game, and finally with 13:53 left in the first half he made a lay-up for his 1,000th point.

“I just wanted to make it!” Soaries said. “I knew if I continued to stay aggressive and look for my shot, I would get it.”

Soaries is the first person to score 1,000 points for the Eagles since Lenny DiMaria, who played from 2003-2007. Like DiMaria, Soaries started during all four years in college.

“I’m extremely fortunate, humbled, and blessed to have had the opportunities that I had,” Soaries said. “There are many guys that I have played with throughout my time here at Eastern who are more than capable of scoring 1,000 points. I am just blessed that I actually had the opportunity to do so.”

Now that he has passed the 1,000-point mark, Soaries said that his main goal is helping the team win the conference.

“The fact that we have never won the conference before is definitely on the mind of everyone on the team. Scoring 1,000 points is a great personal accomplishment, but winning the conference with the team is the ultimate goal.”

Right now, the Eagles are first in the conference with an overall record of 13-6 (6-2 in conference).

Soaries has always worked extremely hard and has dedicated a lot of time and energy into EU Basketball, both on and off the court. He says that anyone looking to be a successful student athlete should do the same.

“Basketball is important to me. But academics is just as important. You have to match the effort you put into your sport with the effort put forth in your studies,” Soaries said.

Scoring 1,000 points is a great accomplishment and we at the Waltonion would like to congratulate Martin Soaries on his accomplishment. We will be cheering for the Eagles all the way to the conference championship!