Wednesday, December 5, 2012

PORTLAND, Ore. - A pair of top four national finishes has earned Simon Fraser’s Alan Koch and Alaska Anchorage’s Michael Friess the GNAC Coach of the Month award for November.

Koch led the Clan men’s soccer team to the NCAA Division II national semifinals in SFU’s first season of playoff eligibility. 

SFU won four games, including three NCAA playoff games, during November before losing to Saginaw Valley State 3-1 Nov. 29 in the national semifinals.

After ending the regular-season Nov. 4 with a 3-0 shutout of Western Washington, SFU defeated Cal State Stanislaus and Grand Canyon by identical 2-1 scores to win the NCAA Division II West Regional title.

The Clan then blanked Incarnate Word 1-0 in the national quarterfinals before falling to Saginaw Valley in the semis.

SFU finished its historic 2012 season with a record of 19-2-1 improving its record in three seasons in the GNAC to 56-4-2.

Koch now has a mark of 87-13-3 in five years at his alma mater and has an overall coaching record of 109-29-3 in seven seasons.

After leading his men’s and women’s teams to GNAC cross country titles in October, Friess led both Alaska Anchorage teams to runner-up finishes in the NCAA West Regional meets Nov. 3 in Hawaii.

Two weeks later, he guided UAA’s men to a third-place finish – the best ever finish by a GNAC men’s team – in the national meet at Joplin, Mo., as Micah Chelimo won the individual title in a time of 28:56.6.

Friess’ women’s team placed sixth at the national meet.

The two UAA squads combined to win four All-American awards by placing in the Top 40 at the national meet.

Chelimo’s All-American award was his fourth after finishing 40th in 2009, 21st in 2010 and 11th in 2011.

Also earning All-American honors in the men’s race were  Alfred Kangogo (14th, 29:56.5) and Dylan Anthony (23rd, 30:09.4).  Susan Tanui was the lone GNAC All-American in the women’s race as the UAA junior finished second in a time of 20:12.6.