Monday, September 3, 2012

RED LION PLAYERS-OF-THE-WEEK

The following Great Northwest Athletic Conference student-athletes have been recognized as Red Lion Players-of-the-Week for their performances during the period of Aug. 27-Sept. 2, 2012:

Football

Offense -  Nick Ricciardulli, Humboldt State (RB, 5-8, 190, Jr., Poway, CA) rushed for 159 yards on 24 carries, scoring on touchdown runs of  one and 74 yards in the Lumberjacks’ 38-13 win over Colorado Mesa. The Red Lion Offensive Player-of-the-Week award winner also had three receptions finishing with 162 all-purpose yards.  His 74-yard jaunt equals the fifth longest in conference history.

Defense – Alex Markarian, Humboldt State (DE, 6-4, 245, So., Chino Hills, CA) had nine tackles including six solos and three quarterback sacks for losses of 16 to earn Red Lion Defensive Player-of-the –Week honors.

Special Teams – Kelly Morgan, Western Oregon (K, 5-10, 170, Sr., Sherwood, OR) kicked a 53-yard field goal – the second-longest in GNAC history - and also connected from 30 yards and on both of his extra point attempts extending his streak to 58 in the Wolves’ 48-20 loss to Grand Valley.  The Red Lion Special Teams Player-of-the-Week  also averaged 65.6 yards on five kickoffs, two of which were touchbacks.

Honorable Mention:  Cody VonAppen, Western Oregon; Trey Wheeler, Simon Fraser; Terrell Watson, Azusa Pacific; Adam Berger, Simon Fraser; Tyler Thornton, Azusa Pacific;  Matt Bruder, Humboldt State. 

Volleyball

Offense -  Marlayna Geary, Western Washington (OH, 5-10, Sr., Tacoma, WA – Bellarmine Prep)  had 59 kills and hit for a .356 percentage in leading the Vikings to four victories in the Western Oregon Invitational.  Geary became the 29th player in GNAC history to record 1,000 career kills, increasing her career total to 1,017.  She also had 50 digs, five service aces and three blocks to earn the Red Lion Offensive Player-of-the-Week award.

Defense – Erin Smith, Central Washington (MB, 5-10, Jr., Selah, WA) had a team-high 13 blocks to take the Red Lion Defensive Player-of-the-Week award.  She  also contributed 51 kills as the Wildcats won three of four matches.  Smith committed just six errors in 90 swings hitting for a .500 percentage.

Honorable Mention:  Katlyn Mataya, Alaska Fairbanks; Michelle Terpstra, Northwest Nazarene;  Samantha Hutchinson, Western Washington.

Women’s Soccer

Offense -   Chelsea Shuman, Montana State Billings (M, 5-2, So., Kalispell, MT – Flathead), scored the game’s only goal as the Yellowjackets  nipped nationally fifth-ranked Colorado Mines 1-0 Thursday to win Red Lion Offense Player-of-the-Week honors.  “Chelsea had an amazing game in the middle and scored a beautiful goal from 25 yards out," MSUB coach Wojtek Krakowiak said. “She also connected on a lot of passes from our forwards.”  

Defense –  Jennifer Larsen, Montana State Billings (D, 5-4, Sr., Mesa, AZ – Mountain View), was instrumental in the Yellowjackets’ 1-0 shutout of nationally fifth-ranked Colorado Mines Friday to claim the Red Lion Defensive Player-of-the-Week award.  Larsen also scored two goals in a 3-0 shutout of Northern State on Saturday.  “Jennifer was very solid in the back and won a lot of headers for,” MSUB coach Wojtek Krakowiak said.

Honorable Mention: Macy Bothman, Western Oregon.

Men’s Soccer

Offense -  Danny Olivas, Seattle Pacific (F, 6-1, Fr., Phoenix, AZ – O’Connor) earned Red Lion Offense Player-of-the-Week honors.  He scored the game-winning goal on a 20-yard free kick in the Falcons’ 3-1 win over 23^rd ranked Chico State and also earned an assist on Blaine Carver’s game-winner Thursday in a 4-2 victory at Notre Dame de Namur as the Falcons opened their season with two wins for the first time since 2002. 

Defense –  Michael Winter, Simon Fraser (D, 5-11, Sr., Vancouver, BC - Capilano) led the Clan defense that posted two shutouts and held Thompson Rivers and Vancouver Island to a total of 11 shots in two victories to snare the Red Lion Defensive Player-of-the-Week award. Winter  also scored a goal as SFU outscored its two opponents by a 9-0 count.

Honorable Mention: Carlo Basso, Simon Fraser; Legofi Crawford, Montana State Billings.

Cross Country

Male -  Micah Chelimo, Alaska Anchorage (Sr., Kapkoi, Kenya) won the Hawaii Pacific Invitational Saturday in Honolulu, posting a time of 15:33 as the Seawolves had the top eight placers posting  a perfect score of 15 to claim the Red Lion Athlete-of-the-Week award.

Female – Robyn Zeidler, Seattle Pacific (So., Plymouth, MN)  earned her first collegiate victory Thursday winning the Alaska Fairbanks Long-Course dual to lead the Falcons to the team title.  Zeidler’s time of 22:56.9 was two minutes faster than her only other run on the course in 2010.   In Saturday’s short-course race, Zeidler clinched the Red Lion Athlete-of-the-Week award  finishing second in a time of 15:18.8 to lead SPU to the team title, improving her 2010 performance by 82 seconds.

Honorable Mention:  Susan Tanui, Alaska Anchorage.