Monday, September 23, 2019

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Saint Martin’s men’s soccer team picked up two wins on its California road trip before taking care of business at home to improve to 5-1-1 on the season. Led by senior forward Brandon Madsen, the Saints earned GNAC Team of the Week honors.

Madsen scored six goals last week for a total of 12 points to lead Saint Martin’s to three consecutive wins. The Saints’ all-time leading goal scorer has nine goals and 19 points heading into conference play. He ranks first in the GNAC and Division II in both goals and points and has turned the Saints into the top-scoring offense in the conference.

Madsen’s first two goals came in the Saints’ 2-0 win at Academy of Art on Thursday. He followed that performance with another two-goal game in a 4-1 win at Stanislaus State on Saturday and a third two-goal game in a 3-2 victory over Lubbock Christian at home on Sunday. Madsen earned GNAC Men’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week honors.

Head coach Rob Walker is pleased with his team’s recent success, but he is more impressed with his players’ willingness to get better every day, both on and off the field.

“I am appreciative of their desire to improve from last Monday through today,” Walker said. “We’ve been on the road and played at home, and winning has taken care of itself. The payoff isn’t in dollars or wins but in seeing a real commitment to being our best.”

Oscar Aguilar also landed on the list of men’s soccer top performers. His three assists led the GNAC last week. Jason Fairhurst and Stephen Murray were also credited with two assists each. Five different Saints were credited with assists among the three games.

Junior goalkeeper Dylan Shaw recorded seven saves in the three games and finished the week with a 3-0-0 record. His first shutout of the season came in the Saints’ 2-0 win at Academy of Art.

“This week was one of those occasions where I can’t say enough about our team,” Walker said. “I’m proud of the guys for going 3-0 this week. Every now and then, coaching turns out to be not just a job, but a real-life reward.”

Saint Martin’s finished its non-conference schedule riding a three-game winning streak and sits at the top of the GNAC standings. Its first true test of the 2019 season, however, will be its conference opener as the Saints are scheduled to head north to take on defending GNAC champion and No. 22 Simon Fraser at 8:30 p.m. on Oct. 3 in Burnaby, B.C.