Tuesday, November 6, 2018

PORTLAND, Ore. – Leading Simon Fraser to a third consecutive GNAC championship, Clan forward Mamadi Camara was named the GNAC Player of the Year to lead the selections on the 2018 GNAC Men's Soccer All-Conference Team.

Camara's team finished regular season play with a record of 17-1-0, highlighted by a record start to the year that included 16 consecutive victories. The senior finished the regular season at the top of the conference with 13 assists. He was one of seven SFU representatives selected to the first team.

In his fourth year as Simon Fraser's head coach, Clint Schneider earned the Coach of the Year award for the third straight year after guiding his club to its third straight conference title. The club finished the season 11 points clear of the league's second-place team.

Reigning in the Defensive Player of the Year award was senior Michael North. In his final season with the Clan, North started all 18 matches and recorded five assists from his defender position. He led a dominant SFU defense that topped the GNAC in goals allowed (7), goals against average (0.39) and shutouts (12).

Simon Fraser also swept both the Freshman and Newcomer of the Year awards. Defender Joost Mangert was named the GNAC Freshman of the Year after starting all 17 matches he appeared in. Goalkeeper Luciano Trasolini received the Newcomer of the Year nod from the conference coaches. The Burnaby-native ranks in the top-five in Division II in both shutouts (11) and goals against average (0.412).

Of the 11 First Team All-GNAC players, nine were unanimous selections. The Clan had the most representatives on the team in the form of two forwards, two midfielders, two defenders and one goalkeeper.

In addition to the four special award winners, sophomores Matteo Polisi and Marcello Polisi and freshman Connor Glennon earned a spot on the first team. After a freshman campaign that resulted in a first team selection, Matteo Polisi is back in a familiar spot after a sensational sophomore season. The forward's 47 points throughout the regular season led the GNAC and ranked sixth across Division II.

His brother, Marcello Polisi, is also back on the first team for a second straight season. The midfielder appeared in and started 15 matches in the regular season, tallying three goals and four assists.

Rounding out the SFU selections was the freshman Glennon, who recorded 16 goals and six assists. Glennon's 38 points have him ranked second in the conference as the postseason begins.

After earning honorable mention nods a year ago, Western Washington's Georg Cholewa and Stephen Jinneman were unanimous first team selections in 2018. Cholewa was far and away his team's most productive player on offense, tallying eight goals and seven assists from his midfielder position. Jinneman championed a defense that gained strength throughout the season, starting all 18 matches while also recording 11 points.

Rounding out the first-team selections are Saint Martin's junior Brandon Madsen and Seattle Pacific sophomore Titus Grant.

A two-time first team selection, Madsen was first on the Saints in goals with 13, tying for third in the conference ranks. The Division I Seattle Univ. transfer ended the year with 30 points.

Grant provided the majority of his team's offense in 2018 and was the man tied with Madsen at 13 goals. The forward finished his second season in Seattle with a GNAC-high 3.88 shots per match.

The NCAA Division II Championships begin this week at campus sites across the country. Simon Fraser will be representing the GNAC as the West Region's No. 1 seed, and it will face either Fresno Pacific or Cal Poly Pomona on Saturday, Nov. 10 in Seattle.

GNAC 2018 MEN'S SOCCER ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM

Player of the Year: Mamadi Camara, Simon Fraser
Coach of the Year: Clint Schneider, Simon Fraser
Defensive Player of the Year: Michael North, Simon Fraser
Freshman of the Year: Joost Mangert, Simon Fraser
Newcomer of the Year: Luciano Trasolini, Simon Fraser

* - Unanimous Selection  
+ - First Team Selection in 2017
# - Second Team Selection in 2017
@ - Honorable Mention in 2017
$ - First Team Selection in 2016
! - Second Team Selection in 2016
& - Honorable Mention in 2016
^ - First Team Selection In 2015