Monday, September 24, 2018

PORTLAND, Ore. – It could not have been a better week for Western Washington teams, which picked up six of the latest GNAC Player of the Week awards.

The Vikings swept the weekly honors in both women’s soccer and cross country. On the pitch, freshman forward Dayana Diaz was named the Women’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week after she scored the game-winner in both matches last week. She scored the game-winner on a 75th minute penalty kick in Wednesday’s 2-1 victory over No. 7 Colorado Mines and scored the only goal in Saturday’s 1-0 shutout of Simon Fraser.

Sophomore goalie Natalie Dierickx was named the Women’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week after she made nine saves in the two victories. Six of those saves came in the win over Colorado Mines while she posted her second shutout of the season against Simon Fraser.

Two WWU freshmen earned the Cross Country Athlete of the Week awards thanks to both individual and team victories at the Ken Garland Invitational on Saturday. Ian Fay was named the Men’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week after he won the men’s 8,000-meter race in 26:03.50, leading the Vikings to the team title with a perfect 15 points. Rebecca Lehman earned Women’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week honors after winning the women’s 5,000-meter race in 18:15.9 as she led the Vikings to the team title with 21 points.

On the golf course, senior Cody Roth was named the Men’s Golf Player of the Week after he tied for second at the Saint Martin’s Invitational. He carded a three-round score of 5-under-par 211, which included two under-par rounds and a career-low of 67 in the second round. Roth led WWU to the team title with a score of 9-under-par 855, 17 strokes ahead of Simon Fraser.

Junior middle blocker Kayleigh Harper earned her third volleyball weekly award of the season. She was named the Volleyball Offensive Player of the Week after finishing with 27 kills, 15 blocks and a .354 hitting percentage in two wins. She finished with 10 kills, nine blocks and a .444 hitting percentage in Thursday’s win over Alaska and added 10 kills and six blocks in Saturday’s four-set win over Alaska Anchorage.

Central Washington junior outside hitter Bridgette Webb was named the Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week after finishing with 13 blocks, 14 kills and a .361 hitting percentage in two victories. She posted a double-double of 12 kills and 10 blocks against Western Oregon on Thursday and then added three blocks against Concordia on Saturday.

Northwest Nazarene junior forward Rafael Junqueira was selected as the Men’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week after he scored both goals to lead Nighthawks to a 2-0 shutout of Seattle Pacific on Thursday to open GNAC play. Simon Fraser senior defender Michael North earned the Defensive Player of the Week award after he anchored a Clan defense that allowed just three shots on goal as SFU improved to 8-0-0 on the season.

On the gridiron, Azusa Pacific sophomore quarterback Tyrone Williams, Jr., and Western Oregon junior quarterback Ty Currie shared the Football Offensive Player of the Week award. Williams completed 22 of 34 passes for 401 yards with five touchdown passes in the Cougars’ heartbreaking 37-35 loss at Division I-FCS North Alabama. Currie, meanwhile, completed 24 of 34 passes for 334 yards and four touchdowns and also rushed for a fifth score in a 38-13 win at Humboldt State.

Azusa Pacific senior linebacker Adrian Shocks was named the Defensive Player of the Week after he finished with 12 tackles, including seven solo tackles, and a big sack and tackle for loss in the fourth quarter against North Alabama. Cougars’ senior kicker Jacob Hall earned the Special Teams Player of the Week award after he punted four times for an average of 42.5 yards punt and was a perfect 3 for 3 on point-after attempts to improve to 16 of 16 on the season.

GNAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK SELECTIONS – WEEK 5
FOOTBALL
Offensive: Tyrone Williams, Jr.(Azusa Pacific, QB, QB, 6-4, 223, So., Merced, Calif. – Merced): Williams completed 22 of 34 passes for 401 yards and five touchdowns as the Cougars fell just short in a 37-35 loss at Division I-FCS North Alabama. He completed six passes or longer, including passes of 56 yards, 66 yards and a 75-yard touchdown pass a minute into the contest.

Ty Currie (Western Oregon, QB, 6-2, 205, Jr., Yreka, Calif. – Yreka): Currie completed 24 of 34 passes for 334 yards and four touchdowns and rushed 12 times for 23 yards and a fifth touchdown in the Wolves’ 38-13 win at Humboldt State. Three of those touchdowns came in the first half, including a 35-yard scoring pass to Tujuan Prince. Also Nominated: Michael Roots (Central Washington), Justin Sieber (Simon Fraser).

Defensive: Adrian Shocks (Azusa Pacific, LB, 6-1, 220, Sr., Federal Way, Wash. – Todd Beamer): Shocks led the Azusa Pacific defense with 12 tackles, which included a key sack and tackle for loss late in the game. Also Nominated: BJ Hawthorne (Central Washington), Nathaniel Proctor, Jr., (Western Oregon).

Special Teams: Jacob Hall (Azusa Pacific, K/P, 6-2, 195, Sr., Greenville, Ill. – Greenville): Hall punted four times in the Cougars’ 37-35 loss to North Alabama, averaging 42.5 yards per punt and included a season-long punt of 64 yards. He also went 3 for 3 on point-after attempts and improved to 16 for 16 on the season. Also Nominated: Chase DeMoor (Central Washington).

MEN’S SOCCER
Offensive: Rafael Junqueira (Northwest Nazarene, F, 6-1, Jr., Sao Paolo, Brazil – Shattuck St. Mary’s): Junqueira scored both goals as the Nighthawks’ stunned Seattle Pacific, 2-0, in the GNAC opener for both teams. He scored the game-winner off an assist by Alex Mitrovic in the 45th minute and added a late breakaway off of Jake Levine’s assist in the 83rd minute. Also Nominated: Kieran McGinn (Concordia), Mamadi Camara (Simon Fraser), Drew Farnsworth (Western Washington).

Defensive: Michael North (Simon Fraser, D, 5-8, Sr., Coquitlam, B.C. – Archbishop Carney Regional): North anchored a Simon Fraser defense that allowed just three shots on goal in two matches as the Clan improved to 8-0-0 on the season. North played all 90 minutes as SFU allowed Montana State Billings just one shot on goal in a 4-0 shutout on Thursday. He then had an assist while limiting Saint Martin’s to two shots on goal in a 6-1 victory on Saturday. Also Nominated: Grant Alorn (Concordia)

WOMEN’S SOCCER
Offensive: Dayana Diaz (Western Washington, F, 5-7, Fr., Granite Falls, Wash. – Granite Falls): The freshman scored both game-winners for the Vikings last week as Western Washington improved to 6-2-0 overall. Diaz netted what became the game-winner in the 75th minute on a penalty kick as the Vikings beat No. 7 Colorado Mines, 2-1, on Wednesday. Diaz then tallied the match’s only goal unassisted in the 82nd minute in a 1-0 win over Simon Fraser on Saturday. Also Nominated: Gabrielle Ewing (Concordia), Alyssa Tomasini (Western Oregon).

Defensive: Natalie Dierickx (Western Washington, GK, 5-7, So., Kirkland, Wash. – Colorado State Univ.): Dierickx made nine saves as Western Washington scored two victories. Dierickx made six saves and did not allow a goal until the 83rd minute in the Vikings 2-1 victory over No. 7 Colorado Mines. She then posted her second shutout of the season in Saturday’s 1-0 win over Simon Fraser, making three saves. Also Nominated: Karlie Hurley (Concordia), Riley Travis (Seattle Pacific), Jacky Beristain (Western Oregon).

VOLLEYBALL
Offensive: Kayleigh Harper (Western Washington, MB, 6-3, Jr., Oak Harbor, Wash. – Oak Harbor): Harper earned her third GNAC Player of the Week award of the season after she finished with 27 kills, 15 blocks and a .354 hitting percentage in a pair of victories over the Alaska schools. Harper led the Vikings with 10 kills and nine blocks with a .444 hitting percentage in Thursday’s three-set sweep of Alaska. She then added 14 kills and six blocks in the Vikings’ four-set win over Alaska Anchorage. Also Nominated: Eve Stephens (Alaska Anchorage), Shelby Mauritson (Central Washington), Skylar Reed (Montana State Billings), Tessa May (Simon Fraser).

Defensive: Bridgette Webb (Central Washington, OH, 6-2, Jr., Yakima, Wash. – West Valley): Webb finished with 13 blocks and 14 kills with a .361 hitting percentage at the Wildcats scored road wins at Concordia and Western Oregon to improve to 11-2 overall and 5-1 in GNAC play. She finished with a double-double with 12 kills and 10 blocks to go along with a .407 hitting percentage against Western Oregon on Thursday. Webb then added a three-block performance in Saturday’s sweep of Concordia. Also Nominated: Vera Pluharova (Alaska Anchorage), Taylor Sherman (Montana State Billings), Abbey Blum (Northwest Nazarene), Aubrey Stephens (Western Washington).

CROSS COUNTRY
Men: Ian Fay (Western Washington, R-Fr., Duvall, Wash. – Shorecrest): Fay led Western Washington to a perfect 15-point victory at the Saint Martin’s Ken Garland Classic on Saturday. Fay won by covering the 8,000-meter course in 26:03.50, averaging 5:14 per mile. He finished six seconds ahead of teammate Jadon Olson. Also Nominated: Wesley Kirui (Alaska Anchorage), Ivan Colmenero (Montana State Billings), Godfrey Kemboi (Northwest Nazarene).

Women: Rebecca Lehman (Western Washington, Fr., Spokane Valley, Wash. – University): Lehman made it a freshman sweep for the Vikings as she won the Saint Martin’s Ken Garland Invitational and led Western Washington to the team title. She covered the 5,000-meter course in 18:15.19, averaging 5:54 per mile. Lehman finished 15 seconds ahead of second-place Micaela Kostecka of Spokane CC as WWU scored 21 points to win the team title. Also Nominated: Emmah Chelimo (Alaska Anchorage), Nikki Aiken (Montana State Billings), Bethany Danner (Northwest Nazarene), Kaylin Cantu (Western Oregon).

GOLF
Men: Cody Roth (Western Washington, Sr., Bellingham, Wash. – Bellingham): Roth opened his 2018-19 season by tying for second place at the Saint Martin’s Invitational as he carded a three-round score of 5-under-par 211. He shot under-par in both the second and third rounds, led by his second-round score of 5-under-par. Roth led Western Washington to the team title as the Vikings carded 9-under-par 855, 17 strokes ahead of second-place Simon Fraser. Also Nominated: Isaac Lee (Simon Fraser).