Andrew Armstrong has capped a phenomenal debut season for Atlantic 10 Conference champions University of Dayton by picking up a string of awards.

The Bermudian striker showcased his burgeoning talent for the first time at NCAA Division I level and crowned a trophy-winning campaign by lifting the coveted Golden Boot and Rookie of the Year honours.

“It’s definitely a blessing and coming into this I would have been happy just to play a few minutes let alone get Rookie of the Year,” Armstrong said.

“That’s well above my expectations of what I thought I was going to do but, going through the year, you would think that was the only thing I had in mind coming into it.”

The 19-year-old freshman hit a conference high of eight goals, including three braces, in 19 appearances for the Flyers.

He was also named Rookie of the Week and made the All-Conference Rookie Team on three occasions as well as twice being named on the Atlantic 10 All-Conference First Team and earning the Ohio’s CollegeAdvantage Student Athlete of the Week accolade

“The season didn’t start out as I wanted it to, but I am just glad everything fell into place the way that it did and I got my opportunity, proved myself, kept my starting spot and then excelled from there,” said Armstrong, who is majoring in mathematics.

“I just grew in confidence, believed in myself and also believed in the team and the formula that we play. Knowing that chances are going to come my way and then just putting them away and proving to myself how I can finish chances was basically my job in the team.”

While thrilled to have taken plenty of the limelight, the former Bermuda youth player also takes pride in playing an integral role in helping the Flyers achieve history by winning back-to-back conference titles and reaching the round of 16 in the NCAA Tournament for the first time.

“Historically, this is the best season in our programme’s history, so I would say we’ve had a very good season,” said Armstrong, the son of three-times Bermuda Half-Marathon Derby champion Terrance Armstrong.

“This is the first time we have won our conference back to back and the farthest in the NCAA Championship that we have made it. So that’s just a great accomplishment for us.

“It feels great to know that not only was I a part of it, but that I did contribute and that makes me feel much better.”

The Flyers retained their conference title, their sixth overall, courtesy of a convincing 3-0 win over Saint Louis, with Armstrong providing the assist for his team’s third goal.

After receiving a bye in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, Armstrong and his Dayton team-mates reached the third round of the competition, in which they lost 3-1 at home to Southern Methodist University.

Despite that defeat, Flyers head coach Dennis Currier has praised his side’s history-making season.

“It’s been an amazing and historic season and these guys have laid a path for others to follow to get to the Sweet Sixteen,” Currier said on the conference website.

“I’m proud of this team and how well they’ve done, winning nine or ten games in a row, capitalising on back-to-back championships and defeating some incredible opponents. The season overall was just such a success.”

Losing the services of a handful of experienced players who have graduated may come as a blow, but Armstrong is optimistic the team can retain their conference title next season.

“With how young our team is and losing three or four key players, next year is going to be hard for us,” Armstrong said.

“But with the gaps being filled and the young talent we already have in the team, I feel that at least winning our conference tournament could be a viable thing for next season.”