Monday, September 10, 2018

PORTLAND, Ore. – Game-winning goals from players on two of the conference’s top women’s soccer teams headline the selections for GNAC Player of the Week awards.

Concordia senior forward Sydney Van Steenberge was named the Women’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week after she scored game-winners in both of the Cavaliers’ matches last week. She tallied in the 56th minute on Tuesday to complete a 3-2 win at Notre Dame de Namur and then scored the game-winner in the 20th minute on Saturday to beat Stanislaus State, 2-0.

Western Washington senior defender Taylor Hallquist earned Defensive Player of the Week honors after she played roles in both of the Vikings’ game-winners while anchoring a defense that allowed just one goal in two matches. She scored the game-winner unassisted in the 55th minute of the Vikings’ 4-0 shutout of Holy Names. Hallquist then assisted in both goals in the Vikings’ 2-1 come-from-behind win over No. 11 MSU Denver on Saturday.

Vikings’ sophomore midfielder Georg Cholewa was recognized as the Men’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week after he tallied both of Western Washington’s goals, including the game-winner in the 79th minute, in a 2-1 win at Point Loma on Thursday. Montana State Billings’ senior goalkeeper Ludvig Rhodin was named the Defensive Player of the Week after he made eight saves in two matches. He registered his first shutout of the season in a 6-0 win over Colorado Christian on Friday and had seven saves in a 1-1 tie with Sonoma State on Sunday.

For the second straight week, Azusa Pacific swept the football offensive and defensive honors. Sophomore quarterback Tyrone Williams, Jr., was named the Offensive Player of the Week after finishing with 363 yards of total offense in the Cougars’ 58-14 win over Simon Fraser. He completed 21 of 27 passes for 301 yards and three touchdowns and also rushed 11 times for 62 yards and two more touchdowns.

Sophomore cornerback Josh Olave was named the Defensive Player of the Week after he had two of the Cougars’ three interceptions for 26 yards. Both picks eventually resulted in touchdowns. Olave also had three tackles and a pass breakup.

Central Washington sophomore defensive back Chaz McKenzie was honored as the Special Teams Player of the Week after he returned his own blocked field goal 65 yards for a touchdown in the Wildcats’ 50-17 win at Western Oregon. McKenzie also finished with five tackles and a forced fumble.

Western Washington junior middle blocker Kayleigh Harper earned her second straight GNAC volleyball weekly honor, this time being tabbed as the Offensive Player of the Week. Harper finished with 22 kills, 12 blocks and an impressive .533 hitting percentage in two home victories, paced by her 12 kills and six blocks against Seattle Pacific on Thursday.

Northwest Nazarene senior libero Shayli Siegfreid was named the Defensive Player of the Week after she averaged nine digs per set as the Nighthawks split their matches in Alaska. Her week was capped by an effort of 40 digs, two assists and an ace in Saturday’s victory at Alaska.

This week’s Cross Country Athletes of the Week both competed in their first meets of the season. Western Oregon senior Dustin Nading was named the Men’s Athlete of the Week after he won Friday’s Ash Creek Invitational, covering the 7,000-meter course in 21:02.5. Alaska Anchorage junior Emmah Chelimo was named the Women’s Athlete of the Week after she finished second at the Skinny Raven New Balance Classic, racing over 6,000 meters in 21:27.

GNAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK SELECTIONS – WEEK 3
FOOTBALL
Offensive: Tyrone Williams, Jr. (Azusa Pacific, QB, 6-4, 223, So., Merced, Calif. – Merced): In the Cougars’ 58-14 win at home over Simon Fraser on Saturday, Williams completed 21 of 27 passes for 301 yards and rushed 11 times for 62 yards and two more touchdowns. He finished with 363 yards of total offense and played a role in all five of APU’s offensive touchdowns. Also Nominated: Reilly Hennessey (Central Washington), Jason Nelson (Simon Fraser), Omari Land (Western Oregon).

Defensive: Josh Olave (Azusa Pacific, CB, 5-10, 180 So., San Ysidro, Calif. – Mission Hills): Olave led the Cougars’ solid defensive effort against Simon Fraser with two interceptions for 26 yards. He had two of the team’s three interceptions, all of which eventually resulted in touchdowns. Olave added three tackles and a pass breakup. Also Nominated: Tyren Sams (Central Washington), Shane Ward (Simon Fraser), Nate Proctor, Jr. (Western Oregon).

Special Teams: Chaz McKenzie (Central Washington, DB, 5-7, 166, So., Federal Way, Wash. – Todd Beamer): In addition to his five tackles and a forced fumble, McKenzie blocked a first-quarter field goal and returned it 65 yards for a touchdown. It was the first touchdown for the Wildcats in their 50-17 win in the GNAC opener at Western Oregon. Also Nominated: Jacob Hall (Azusa Pacific), Curtis Anderson (Western Oregon).

MEN’S SOCCER
Offensive: Georg Cholewa (Western Washington, M, 5-11, So., Leipzig, Germany – Sportgymnasium Chemnitz): Cholewa tallied both of Western Washington’s goals, including the game-winner in the 79th minute, in a 2-1 victory at Point Loma. He had four shots in the match, three of which were on goal. Also Nominated: Ricardo Palomino (Montana State Billings), Brandon Madsen (Saint Martin’s), Mamadi Camara (Simon Fraser).

Defensive: Ludvig Rhodin (Montana State Billings, GK, 5-10, Sr., Hoganas, Sweden – Univ. of Mary): Rhodin finished with eight saves as the Yellowjackets went 1-0-1 at their own Rimrock Classic, earning All-Tournament Team honors. He was part of a MSUB offense allowed just two shots, making a save on one, in Friday’s 6-0 shutout of Colorado Christian. Rhodin then made seven saves as MSUB tied Sonoma State on Sunday, 1-1. Also Nominated: Michael North (Simon Fraser), Jeremiah Lee (Western Washington).

WOMEN’S SOCCER
Offensive: Sydney Van Steenberge (Concordia, F, 5-4, Sr., McMinnville, Ore. – Perrydale): Van Steenberge scored game-winning goals as the Cavaliers won both matches last week and improved to 3-0-1 on the season. She scored the game-winner in the 56th minute off Rebecca Harris’ assist in Tuesday’s 3-2 win at Notre Dame de Namur. Van Steenberge then tallied the game-winner in the 20th minute as the Cavaliers handed Stanislaus State its first loss of the season on Saturday, 2-0. Van Steenberge has three goals on the season, all of which have been game-winners. Also Nominated: Madison Bradley (Central Washington), Alexa Iacolucci (Montana State Billings), Maddy Parton (Northwest Nazarene), Kiersten Madsen (Saint Martin’s), Sophia Chilczuk (Seattle Pacific), Alyssa Tomasini (Western Oregon), Grace Eversaul (Western Washington).

Defensive: Taylor Hallquist (Western Washington, D, 5-5, Sr., Vancouver, Wash. – Columbia River): Hallquist scored a goal and had two assists while leading a WWU defense that allowed just one goal in two matches. She scored the game-winning goal unassisted in the 55th minute while helping to hold Holy Names to two shots in Thursday’s 4-0 win. Hallquist then assisted in both goals in the second half as the Vikings came from behind to beat No. 7 MSU Denver 2-1. Also Nominated: McKenna Stocker (Concordia), Amanda Hemmen (Montana State Billings), Olivia Carter (Northwest Nazarene), Riley Travis (Seattle Pacific), Alex Qualls (Western Oregon).

VOLLEYBALL
Offensive: Kayleigh Harper (Western Washington, MB, 6-2, Jr., Oak Harbor, Wash. – Oak Harbor): Harper finished with 22 kills and 12 blocks in two GNAC victories and amassed an impressive .533 hitting percentage (22 kills, 1 error, 38 attempts) as the Vikings won their sixth and seventh matches in a row. She opened the week with 12 kills and six blocks while hitting .500 in Thursday’s four-set win over Seattle Pacific. Harper then had 10 kills and six blocks to help beat Saint Martin’s in a three-set sweep on Saturday. Also Nominated: Tara Melton (Alaska Anchorage), Makala Swart (Central Washington), Tori Johnson (Concordia), Maddi Vigil (Montana State Billings), Abbey Blum (Northwest Nazarene), Megan Vernoy (Saint Martin’s), Tessa May (Simon Fraser).

Defensive: Shayli Siegfreid (Northwest Nazarene, L, 5-5, Sr., Highlands Ranch, Colo. – Highlands Ranch): Siegfreid finished with 63 digs, averaging nine digs per set, as the Nighthawks split their matches on the Alaska road trip. She finished with 23 digs to lead all players in Thursday’s loss at Alaska Anchorage before coming up with 40 digs, two assists and an ace in Saturday’s four-set win at Alaska. Also Nominated: Anjoiljn Vreeland (Alaska Anchorage), Julia Mellander (Central Washington), Callie Wilkins (Concordia), Izela Alvarez (Montana State Billings), Rachel Gondrezick (Saint Martin’s), Sierra Stultz (Western Oregon), Aubrey Stephens (Western Washington).

CROSS COUNTRY
Men: Dustin Nading (Western Oregon, Sr., Longview, Wash. – Colby Coll.): Making his season debut at home, Nading won the Ash Creek Invitational by four seconds over teammate Tyler Jones. Nading covered the 7,000-meter course in 21:02.5, averaging 4:50 per mile. He led the Wolves to the team victory with 21 points. Also Nominated: Wesley Kirui (Alaska Anchorage), Noah Murry (Concordia), Godfrey Kemboi (Northwest Nazarene).

Women: Emmah Chelimo (Alaska Anchorage, Jr., Iten, Kenya – Nyack Coll.): Opening the season at the Skinny Raven New Balance Classic in Anchorage, Chelimo finished second in the women’s 6,000-meter race in a time of 21:27. She was beat only by Rosie Brennan, who was a 2018 U.S. Olympian in Nordic skiing. Chelimo led the Seawolves with a perfect score of 15 points to beat Alaska in a dual team competition. Also Nominated: Bailey Fjelstul (Concordia), Kaylin Cantu (Western Oregon).