Thursday, October 26, 2017

PORTLAND, Ore. – Not only is Seattle Pacific a tough program to compete with on the soccer pitch, they are just as tough in the classroom as the Falcons lead the way on the 2017 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Men’s Soccer All-Academic Team.

The Falcons boast not only the two players with the top grade point averages in the league, but have four players with GPAs above a 3.95. In addition, the program boasts seven players with GPAs of 3.68 or better.

Senior midfielder Jess Cayetano and junior Andrew Ivaldi lead the way. Both players boast a 3.98 GPA for Seattle Pacific, Cayetano as a physiology major and Ivaldi as a psychology major. Cayetano has been a key part of the Falcons’ success this season with two goals and two assists in 12 matches, including 10 starts. Ivaldi has seen limited action in four matches.

The pair is joined by a pair of teammates with 3.97 GPAs. Senior Ryan Higgins has a 3.97 GPA as a business administration major and has started 11 matches this season. Junior Luke Postma is an economics major and started eight matches while playing in 12.

The four lead a total of 51 selections to the annual squad honoring the top academic performers among GNAC soccer teams. To be selected to the squad, a player must be of sophomore athletic eligibility standing or greater in their second season, be a full season rostered player on their team and have a 3.20 cumulative GPA or better at the nominating institution.

The four Falcons lead a list of nine student-athletes with GPAs of 3.80 or better. That list includes Concordia’s Alec Lohr, Montana State Billings’ Alexis Chavez and Western Washington’s Christian Rotter, Garrett Strawn and Cameron Unks.

This year’s squad also features 17 repeat selections. Eight of those are three-time selections including Concordia’s Brady Sanders, Northwest Nazarene’s Collin Raymond, Saint Martin’s Kyle Witzel, Seattle Pacific’s Cayetano, Higgins, Gabe Kellum and Julian White; and Western Washington’s Luke Olney.

Of the 51 All-Academic selections, eight were All-GNAC selections in 2016. Western Washington’s Olney and Northwest Nazarene’s Linus Mannson were first-team honorees while Montana State Billings’ Oliver Posarelli and Saint Martin’s Kyle Witzel were second-team selections.

Western Washington led all teams with 11 GNAC All-Academic selections. Seattle Pacific had 10 while Saint Martin’s had nine honorees.