Wednesday, November 15, 2017
PORTLAND, Ore. – In a parity-filled Great Northwest Athletic Conference season that saw three teams contending for the league title during the final week, five GNAC players have been selected for the 2017 Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) All-West Region Team.
GNAC champion Simon Fraser sees senior defender Magnus Kristensen, freshman midfielder Marcello Polisi and freshman forward Matteo Polisi score First Team All-West Region honors. Enjoying breakout seasons this year, Saint Martin’s sophomore forward Brandon Madsen and Montana State Billings midfielder Guillaume Kremer landed Second Team All-West Region honors.
The Polisis and Kristensen earned first-team honors after helping the Clan to their second GNAC title in as many years. After redshirting last year, Marcello Polisi started all 17 games for almost 1,500 minutes this season. His dominance in the middle of the pitch conducted a dynamic Clan attack, as Polisi was an instrumental part of a Simon Fraser midfield that brought SFU its sixth conference title in eight years. Polisi finished the regular season with a goal and an assist.
The reigning GNAC Defensive Player of the Year and three-time All-West Region selection, Kristensen led a Clan backline that allowed just 14 goals, including eight shutouts. The senior was second on the team in minutes and started in all 17 games. Along with his defensive efforts, the central defender tallied two goals and three assists for seven points.
In his debut season, Matteo Polisi presented a goal-scoring threat in every match. He earned GNAC Freshman of the Year honors after leading the Clan with 10 goals. Polisi ranked third in the GNAC with 24 points and led the league with five game-winning goals.
In his first year of GNAC action, Madsen was a Second Team All-West Region selection. The sophomore, who was named the GNAC Newcomer of the Year, was the main man in attack for the Saints. Averaging 0.94 goals per game, the Saint Martin’s forward tallied a league-high 16 goals, which was good for seventh in Division II during the regular season. He also led the GNAC with 33 points.
Rounding out GNAC selections is Kremer. Awarded Second Team All-West Region, the Yellowjackets’ midfielder led MSUB with nine goals and five assists. His 23 points ranked fourth in the GNAC. Starting in all 19 contests this year, Kremer emerged as a set piece specialist with seven of his goals coming off free kicks. He found the net with two game-winning tallies and took 88 of the team's 90 corner kicks.
The conference’s three first-team selections will now move forward for consideration for the D2CCA All-American Team, which will be announced on Fri., Dec. 1.