Wednesday, August 3, 2016

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – After reaching the 2015 NCAA Division II women’s soccer semifinals, Western Washington earned the No. 3 national ranking, while on the men’s side Seattle Pacific ranks No. 12 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Division II Preseason Rankings. Seattle Pacific women’s soccer, which is receiving votes, was the other squad to represent the GNAC in the preseason poll.

After reaching the penultimate stage last season, the Vikings are the highest ranked team in the West Region to start the season. The Vikings return seven starters from a team that went 21-2-1, which included a school record 20-game unbeaten streak. Among those returners is GNAC Tournament Most Valuable Player Caitlyn Jobanek, who scored 7 goals in her junior season, as well as first-team all-GNAC midfielder selection Emily Webster.

Western Washington will be missing goalkeeper Ashley Haden, who ranked 13th in the nation in goals against average (0.541). However, head coach Travis Connell, in his 15th year with the program, added transfer Ashley Homer, who redshirted last season after posting a 0.38 goals against average the season before at the College of Saint Rose, in Albany, New York.

The Seattle Pacific men’s soccer team was the toughest team to score against during the 2015 season with just nine goals allowed. After winning the GNAC title last season and reaching the West Region semifinals, the Falcons start the 2016 season ranked No. 11, which is second amongst West Region teams.

From its 14-1-4 team, SPU brings back six starters, including third-team all-American goalkeeper Cody Lang and three other members of the defensive line that boasted the best goals against average in the nation. Head coach Mark Collings filled a need in the midfield. After lossing four starting midfielders, Collings recruited five freshmen midfielders to join all-GNAC honorable mention midfielder Jordan Kollars and Mori Tsuchiya, who scored four goals last year.

Seattle Pacific women’s soccer reached the West Region semifinal last year and brings back seven starters from that squad, including West Region MVP Hannah Huesers, who scored 14 goals last season. The Falcons are fourth amongst West Region schools in the top 25 poll and one of eight squads that is receiving votes.