Thursday, October 20, 2016

PORTLAND, Ore. – Three student-athletes with a grade point average of 4.00 or better lead the list of 35 players selected to the Great Northwest Athletic Conference’s 2016 Men’s Soccer All-Academic Team.

The list is led by one of the top goalkeepers in conference history. Simon Fraser senior Brandon Watson earned his third straight selection to the squad with a 4.14 cumulative grade point average as a kinesiology major in the Canadian system that awards 4.33 grade points for an A-plus. Watson, who is in the top-15 in Division II this season in goals against average, has five shutouts on the season as the Clan aims for its first GNAC title since 2013. He is also the GNAC all-time leader in shutouts in conference matches with 21.

The other two four-point student-athletes on the team come from the traditional GNAC power Seattle Pacific, which leads all league teams with 10 all-academic selections. Junior midfielders Jess Cayetano and Ryan Higgins, both repeat selections, have both compiled 4.00 GPAs as physiology majors. Cayetano has started all 12 matches for the Falcons this season and has scored two goals and recorded two assists. Higgins has started eight matches this season with two goals.

Watson is one of six three-time selections to the Men’s Soccer All-Academic Team. He is joined by Saint Martin’s Max Harvey, Seattle Pacific’s Jeffrey Collings, Davis Karaica and Jordan Kollars; and Simon Fraser’s Robert Hyams.

Of the 35 total honorees to the team, 21 are repeat selections. Six student-athletes have compiled cumulative grade point averages of 3.90 or better.

To qualify for selection to the GNAC Men’s Soccer All-Academic Team, a player must be of sophomore standing or better, be in their second year of competition with the nominating insitution and have a 3.20 cumulative GPA or better.