Wednesday, November 29, 2017

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – In another tight GNAC race that saw just six points separate the conference’s top five teams, eight GNAC players were selected to the Division II United Soccer Coaches All-West Region Men’s Soccer Team.

Simon Fraser led all GNAC teams with four selections, including reigning GNAC Defensive Player of the Year senior Magnus Kristensen and junior midfielder Mamadi Camara to the first team.

Joining the 2017 GNAC Player of the Year, freshman midfielder Marcello Polisi, on the second team is Seattle Pacific senior defender Chaz Jenkins. Rounding out GNAC representatives are four players on the All-West Region third team. Northwest Nazarene sees a pair of sophomores selected to the squad in defender Linus Mansson and midfielder Edwin Quiroz. The Nighthawks duo is joined by Simon Fraser junior defender Michael North and Western Washington senior forward Anthony Dean.

Kristensen, the two-time GNAC Defensive Player of the Year, led a Clan backline that allowed just 16 goals (0.89 per game) including eight shutouts. The senior was second on the team in minutes and started all 18 games. Along with his defensive efforts, the central defender tallied two goals and three assists for seven points.

Camara is selected for first-team honors after another impressive season with the Clan. Second on Simon Fraser with 51 shots, the junior totaled six goals and one assist in 17 starts and was a First Team All-GNAC selection for the third season in a row

Polisi, Mansson and Quiroz started in all of their team’s respective contests this season, while North recorded five assists as a defender. Dean was second in the GNAC in points and goals with 25 and 11, respectively.

Nominated and voted for by coaches, the five GNAC first-team members will now be forwarded to the national ballot, which will be announced Friday, Dec.1.