UNC Wilmington Athletics

2017 Season: Second-Team All-Midwest Region selection by the United Soccer Coaches as a freshman ... also garnered First-Team All-Colonial Athletic Association and NCCSIA All-State notice ... named CAA Rookie-of-the-Year ... earned spot on CAA All-Rookie Team ... started all 20 games on defense for the Seahawks ... member of defensive unit that allowed one goal or less in 11-of-20 games ... scored two goals with an assist ... named CAA Player-of-the-Week on Sept. 4 after leading UNCW to 1-0 victory over No. 3 North Carolina ... also received Top Drawer Soccer and College Soccer News National Team-of-the-Week distinction for his efforts against the Tar Heels ... scored lone goal in the Seahawks' victory over No. 3 North Carolina, converting pass from David Lozano in 27th minute ... selected as CAA Rookie-of-the-Week on Aug. 28 after being named Defensive MVP at the Mike Gibbs Memorial Tournament ... netted goal in 3-2 victory over North Florida ... tallied an assist in 1-0 victory over Presbyterian in first round of NCAA Championship ... attempted six shots, including two shots on goal ... recipient of CAA Commissioner's Academic Award for fall semester.

Prior to UNCW: Started 49-of-55 games with IF Brommapojkarna U-19 and U-21 teams … served as captain for U-19 team which won the 2016 Swedish Championship … also spent time training with the first team … helped U-19 team post 10-3-0 record in 2017 while guiding U-21 squad to 8-1-2 mark.

Personal: Full Name: Hjalmar Ekdal … born in Stockholm, Sweden … son of Malin Raeaef and Lennart Ekdal … youngest of three children in family … has yet to declare a major.