Wednesday, October 5, 2016

PORTLAND -- The all-time GNAC record for the longest home winning streak is within reach this week for Western Washington, which has won its last 20 home matches, including two this year against top-10 teams and another against an unbeaten Concordia team.

The record of 22 consecutive home wins was set by Seattle Pacific in 2004, but the Vikings can tie that this week when they host Montana State Billings and Northwest Nazarene.

The Vikings have several other streaks on the line, including a nine-match winning streak, a 37-match unbeaten streak in home regular season matches, 26-match unbeaten streak against West Region opponents, 34-match conference unbeaten streak, and a streak of 23 consecutive conference matches without being shutout.

All of those streaks are on the line for the No. 5 team in the nation, which leads the conference in every team statistic this season except saves.

After taking its first loss of the season on Saturday, Concordia will look to bounce back on Thursday at Seattle Pacific. The Falcons tied Central Washington on the road on Tuesday to remain in a tie for second place.

This week will have some Sunday soccer action as Central Washington travels to play against Western Oregon. The Wolves are undefeated at home in 2016 with three wins in as many matches, but Central Washington has an identical record of 3-0-0 when playing on the road. Simon Fraser will host both Northwest Nazarene and MSU Billings at Terry Fox Field.

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

OFFENSE
Caitlyn Jobanek, Western Washington
M/F • 5-2 • Senior • Springfield, Ore.
Jobanek registered three goals in two matches last week as the Vikings improved to 9-0-1 on the season. She scored two goals in Thursday’s 4-1 win over Saint Martin’s and netted the game-winner in the Vikings’ 2-1 victory over Concordia.

Monpreet Heer, Simon Fraser
F • 5-7 • Freshman • Surrey, B.C.
In the Clan’s lone match of the week, a 6-0 rout of Western Oregon on Saturday, Heer finished with two goals and two assists for a GNAC season-best six points.

Also Nominated: Allie Bohnett (Central Washington), Alycia Wright (Montana State Billings), Bobbi Eckler (Concordia), Hannah Holm (Northwest Nazarene).

DEFENSE
Sierra Shugarts, Western Washington
D • 5-9 • Junior • Federal Way, Wash.
Shugarts led a Western Washington defense that allowed Saint Martin’s and Concordia to a total of four shots on goal. Shugarts also contributed her first career goal in the Vikings’ 2-1 win over Concordia on Saturday.

Also Nominated: Emily Holt (Central Washington), Kari Kastelic (Montana State Billings), Ana Delgadillo (Concordia), Daniele Ortiz (Northwest Nazarene).

GNAC MILESTONE TRACKER

Hannah Huesers (SPU) - The Falcon scored the game-tying goal against Central Washington on Tuesday. It was her 40th career goal, giving her 88 career points. She became the seventh player in conference history to reach 40 career goals. Her 88 career points bumps her into the top 10, surpassing a pair of former Falcons. Huesers has 27 goals and 60 points in GNAC matches. The 60 points ranks seventh all-time, while her 27th goal surpassed Leah Wymer (2002-05) from Seattle Pacific for fourth place. The 2015 GNAC Offensive Player of the Year needs nine more goals to tie the GNAC record for goals and goals in conference matches. Huesers has 12 career game-winning goals, which ranks eighth all-time and has seven game-winning goals in GNAC games, which is three away from the GNAC record.

Western Washington - Wins over Saint Martin’s and Concordia kept Western Washington’s pursuit of history alive. The Vikings have now won 20 consecutive home matches, which is just two away from the all-time GNAC record of 22 set by Seattle Pacific in 2004. The Vikings also have gone unbeaten in their last 37 home matches during the regular season, which is a streak that goes all the way back to the 2012 season. The GNAC record for longest home unbeaten streak in regular season matches is 40, which was set by Seattle Pacific in 2010. The Vikings are unbeaten in their last 34 conference matches and have scored a goal in 23 consecutive matches against conference opponents. Including playoff matches, the Vikings now have a 26-match unbeaten streak against West Region opponents. Western Washington will place twice at home this week against Montana State Billings and Northwest Nazarene, putting all of those streaks on the line.

Concordia - The Cavaliers have won 11 out of 13 home matches since joining the GNAC and are unbeaten in all 13. Counting a 24-match unbeaten streak as an NAIA member, Concordia’s streak is now at 37 unbeaten home matches. The GNAC record for home unbeaten streak is 44 set by Seattle Pacific in 2010.

AROUND THE GNAC

CENTRAL WASHINGTON
• Central Washington played three matches in the last week, winning two before tying Seattle Pacific on Tuesday.
• The Wildcats are ranked No. 25 in the NSCAA Division II Coaches Poll, breaking into the top 25 for the first time this season.
• In the wins on Thursday and Sunday, the Wildcats outscored their opponents 7-1.
• Mackenzie Nolte scored her team-best third goal of the year in the opening minutes against SPU. The goal was the only one scored by the Wildcats in the tie.
• Emily Holt saved six shots against Seattle Pacific for a total of 56 this season. She also has five shutouts and a goals against average of 0.72.
• Central Washington’s 19 goals have been scored by 12 different players. Keilin Farrand has played a part in the most goals with two goals and four assists.

CONCORDIA
• Concordia dropped its only match this week against Western Washington, ending the Cavaliers eight-match unbeaten streak to start the season.
• Gabrielle Ewing has played a part in six goals which is tied for most in the conference with three goals and three assists.
• The Cavaliers are unbeaten in all 13 matches played at Tuominen Yard since joining the conference. Including NAIA competition, the home unbeaten streak is now at 37 matches.
• Olivia Brock allowed two goals against Western Washington, but is still the GNAC’s all-time leader in career save percentage at .909 and her goals against average is now .472, which ranks third in conference history. She also reached 100 career saves with her final save against the Vikings.
• Concordia is ranked No. 7 in the NSCAA West Region rankings.
• The Cavs’ will go to Seattle Pacific on Thursday for a rematch of last year’s GNAC Championship semifinal, which SPU won on a golden goal in the second overtime period.
• Concordia ranks second in the conference in points (6.33), goals (2.22), and assists (1.89) in the conference trailing only Western Washington.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
• The Yellowjackets quickly turned their season around with the start of conference play with a 3-1 victory over Western Oregon in their conference opener.
• Montana State Billings added to that a tie with Concordia, which was on a 7-match winning streak and then defeated Northwest Nazarene on the road.
• Montana State Billings plays at Western Washington on Thursday and then goes across the border to play Simon Fraser on Saturday.
• Lili Delgadillo has made 43 saves this season, which ranks 94th in Division II.
• Jordan Devoto and Hayley Warren both came off the bench to score goals in the 3-1 victory over Western Oregon. The game-winner was scored by Dana Lubieniecki  in the 57th minute, which was her third goal this season. Warren also has two goals.
• Alexa Iacolucci has taken a team-high 25 shots, which is tied for ninth most in the conference.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
• Northwest Nazarene ended last week on a postitive note with a 2-0 win against Saint Martin’s, ending a 4-match losing streak.
• The Crusaders will look to build on the win when they hit the road this week to face Simon Fraser and Western Washington.
• Daniele Ortiz became the ninth player in GNAC history to record 200 career saves in conference matches with a save in the 75th minute of the 2-0 victory over Saint Martin’s.
• Madi Taylor has eight points, which ranks in the top 10 in the conference.
• The Crusaders will look to end an nine-match losing streak in road conference matches this week when they go to Bellingham and Burnaby this week.

SAINT MARTIN’S
• Saint Martin’s dropped both of its contests this week against No. 7 Western Washington and Northwest Nazarene.
• The Saints have allowed 17 goals in the last four matches.
• Lauren Allison scored her second goal of the season in the 66th minute against Western Washington. She is just the third player this year to score a goal against Western Washington
• Saint Martin’s has scored five goals this year by four different players, including two in the win against Hawaii Pacific.
• Saint Martin’s will host Western Oregon on Thursday.

SEATTLE PACIFIC
• Seattle Pacific defeated Simon Fraser on the road on Thursday and then earned a tie at Central Washington on Tuesday.
• Hannah Huesers scored her fifth goal of the season in the second half against Central Washington. The senior now needs nine more goals this season to tie GNAC records for career goals and career goals in conference matches.
• Seattle Pacific lost to Central Washington just two weeks ago at home before tying the Wildcats in Ellensburg, Wash.
• The Falcons are one of three teams to claim three conference wins already this season.The Falcons have won five of their last seven conference matches.
• The Falcons had scored goals in 14 consecutive GNAC matches before being shutout by Central Washington.
• Simone Herzberg has three assists this year, which is one shy of the conference leader.
• Seattle Pacific will host Concordia on Thursday. Both teams have a winning record in the conference this season.
• The last time SPU and Concordia met, the Falcons won on a golden goal by Isabel Farrell in the 109th minute to avoid a penalty kick shootout.

SIMON FRASER
• The Clan’s defense, which was impenatrable through the first three matches of the season, produced its fifth shutout this year against Western Oregon
• Emma Pringle scored all of the team’s first four goals this season and six of the first eight with her sixth goal coming in the first half agaisnt Western Oregon. Her six goals lead the conference and rank 32nd in Division II.
• All three of Simon Frasers losses have come to teams ranked in the top seven of the NSCAA West Region rankings, but the Clan defeated No. 4 Central Washington.
• Pringle has scored three game-winning goals this year, which is just two shy of the national leader.
• Monpreet Heer scored two goals and assisted on two others setting a new comference season-high for points in a game, earning a share of the GNAC Offensive Player of the Week honor.
• Eight of the team’s 12 goals have been scored by freshmen.
• Priya Sandhu played 80 minutes at goalkeeper in the team’s shutout against Western Oregon. This year, she has 38 saves, four shutouts, and a goals against average of 0.86, which ranks 79th in Division II.
• After having never beaten a California school this decade, the Clan went 2-1-1 against California schools to start the season.
• Simon Fraser will host Northwest Nazarene and Montana State Billings this week. The Clan defeated both teams by one-goal margins last year.

WESTERN OREGON
• Western Oregon lost to Central Washington and Simon Fraser this week, getting outscored 10-1 on the road.
• The lone goal was an unassisted effort by Kaili Brundage for her first career colligiate goal.
• Taylor Higa has scored four goals this year and assisted two for 10 points, which ranks 84th in the nation and third in the conference. She is also one of five players this year in the GNAC that has scored at least four goals this season.
• Western Oregon is undefeated at home with a 3-0-0 record.
• The Wolves will travel to Saint Martin’s on Thursday and then host Central Washington on Sunday.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
• Since tying Sonoma State in the season-opener, Western Washington has won nine straight contests, including eight that have been played at Harrington Field.
• Western Washington has won or tied its last 26 matches against West Region opponents.
• WWU has defeated two teams ranked in the top 10 in the nation and is now ranked No. 5 in the latest NSCAA poll.
• Western Washington continued its GNAC championship defense with a 2-1 win over Concordia. The Vikings are looking for their fifth consecutive conference title, which would be the first time in GNAC women’s soccer history that one program has won the title five times in a row.
• WWU’s win over Concordia was the team’s 20th consecutive win at home and improves the Vikings regular season unbeaten streak at home to 37 going back to 2012. The conference record for an unbeaten streak at home during the regular season is 40 by Seattle Pacific in 2010.
• No team puts pressure on opposing goalkeepers like Western Washington. The Vikings have taken 23.9 shots per match this season, which is eight more than any other team in the conference has. They have outshot their oppponents 239-74 this year.
• Ashley Homer has produced seven shutouts in 10 matches, which is the seventh best shutout percentage in the nation. Meanwhile, her 0.31 goals against average is ninth in the country.
• The Vikings are 9-0-1 so far this year with the lone tie coming to No. 22 Sonoma State. That is the fifth best winning percentage in all of NCAA Division II.
• Since the start of the 2012 season, Western Washington has been the toughest team to beat in the GNAC putting together a record of 85-9-7 (.876). The Vikings are also 52-3-4 (.915) during that span in conference play.
• The Vikings lead the conference in every team statistic except saves.
• Western Washington will host Northwest Nazarene and Montana State Billings this week. With wins in both matches, the Vikings will tie the GNAC record for longest home winning streak.