Thursday, September 17, 2015

FALCONS MOVE UP IN RANKINGS: Seattle Pacific finished non-conference play 4-0 with three shutouts, jumping 16 spots to No. 7 in the NSCAA Division II Top-25. The Falcons are also ranked No. 1 in the West Region while Western Washington follows behind at No. 2.

DEFENSE RULES: Four teams in the GNAC have started with a goals allowed average below half a goal. Simon Fraser leads the way (0.31), with Western Oregon (0.39), Seattle Pacific (0.48) and Western Washington (0.49) following closely. GNAC are a combined 22-12-3 to begin the season.

GNAC COUNTRY: GNAC play begins Saturday, with eight of nine teams in action. Western Oregon hosts Western Washington, Central Washington travels down to Concordia, Montana State Billings welcome Northwest Nazarene and Seattle Pacific matchup against Simon Fraser with Saint Martin's starting play the following week.

THIS WEEK'S GNAC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
OFFENSIVE
Laura Moore, Seattle Pacific
M • 5-3 • Senior • Kent, Wash.

Moore finished with two goals and an assist in two matches. She netted the game-winning golden goal in the 109th minute of the Falcons’ 3-2 win over Cal State East Bay on Saturday. She also scored in the 28th minute of the match, giving SPU the 2-1 lead. Moore opened the week by assisting on the game-winner in the Falcons’ 1-0 shutout at Notre Dame de Namur. Also Nominated: Olivia Brock (Concordia), Dana Lubieniecki (Montana State Billings), Abby McFaul (Saint Martin’s), Whitney Lowe (Central Washington), Nicole Nsa (Northwest Nazarene).

DEFENSIVE
Daniele Ortiz, Northwest Nazarene
GK • 5-8 • Sophomore • Sunnyvale, Calif.

Ortiz finished with 24 saves and two shutouts in three matches. She made 11 saves in the Crusaders’ 2-0 shutout of San Francisco State on Monday. She then made five saves in their 3-2 loss at Holy Names on Thursday and eight stops in a 1-0 win at Dominican (Calif.) on Saturday. Also Nominated: Olivia Brock (Concordia), Kari Kastelic (Montana State Billings).

AROUND THE GNAC
CENTRAL WASHINGTON:
- The Wildcats finished 1-1 over week two, wrapping up their non-conference schedule at 2-3 overall.
- They have been led offensively by Mackenzie Nolte who is leading the conference in assists per game (0.60).
- Start their conference season at Concordia.

CONCORDIA:
- The Cavaliers are 2-1-1 in non-conference play.
- Olivia Brock leads the conference in save percentage (.909).
- Will host Concordia in their first GNAC match.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS:
- The Yellowjackets are 2-1-1 to start the season with a win over Academy of Art to end non-conference play.
- Jessica Spang is fifth in the conference in points (6).
- Second in shots per game (16.00).
- Will host Northwest Nazarene in GNAC opener.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE:
- The Crusaders have started the season 2-2-0.
- Nicole Nsa is tied for first in goals in the GNAC (3).
- Are first in the GNAC in saves (33) and assists per game (1.50).
- Travel to MSUB for first GNAC match.

SAINT MARTIN’S:
- Saints have started 1-3-0, but picked up first win this week over Trinity Lutheran 4-0.
- Second in points (21) and goals (8) in the GNAC.
- Abby McFaul tied for conference lead in goals (3).
- Next game is Sept. 24 at Western Washington.

SEATTLE PACIFIC:
- Moved up to No. 7 in Top-25 after 4-0 start.
- Have shutout opponents in 3-of-4 matches.
- Laura Moore (8) and Hannah Huesers (7) are 2-of-top-3 scorers in the GNAC.
- Host Simon Fraser in first conference match.

SIMON FRASER:
- Defeated Hawaii Pacific in last non-conference match to up record to 2-0-1.
- Tops in the GNAC in goals allowed average (0.31).
- Christiana Dickson is fourth in conference in points per game (1.67).
- Will travel to No. 7 Seattle Pacific.

 WESTERN OREGON:
- Wolves have started 4-1-0 on the season.
- Lead the conference in scoring with 12 goals in five games.
- Vicky Cruz Rosales is tied for league points lead (8).
- Host Western Washington in GNAC-season opener.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
- Vikings have started season 3-1.
- Are ranked No. 12 in the Top-25 and No. 2 in the region.
- Ashley Haden has started with three shutouts in four games.
- Travel to Western Oregon to begin GNAC season.

GAME RECAPS

THURS., SEPT. 10
HOLY NAMES 3, NORTHWEST NAZARENE 2: Nicole Nsa scored the first and last goals of the match for the Crusaders, but three goals in between from Holy Names took the match. Nsa led the team with four shots on goal as the team put eight total on net on 17 shots. Daniele Ortiz made five saves in the loss as the Crusaders dropped to 1-2. Box Score

SEATTLE PACIFIC 1, NOTRE DAME DE NAMUR 0: Hannah Huesers scored the game-winning goal in the 87th minute to send the Falcons to 3-0 with their third-straight shutout to start the season. The Falcon defense allowed six shots with just three on net as goalkeeper Molly Stinson picked up her third win in as many matches. Box Score

WESTERN OREGON 2, COLORADO CHRISTIAN 1 (OT): The Wolves received a gift-golden goal in the first overtime period by a goal knocked in by a defender. The Wolves trailed late, but scored the tying goal in the 71st minute by Shelby Peterson off the bench. The Wolves won the shot battle 11-6 and had a slight advantage in shots on net 6-5. Box Score

SAN FRANCISCO STATE 2, MONTANA STATE BILLINGS 1: Two first-half goals sunk the Yellowjackets as they fell 2-1 on the road to San Francisco State. Alycia Wright scored the first goal in the 84th minute to bring the Yellowjackets within one goal, but there was not enough time to complete the comeback. Shots were almost even with the Yellowjackets being narrowly outshot 16-15. Box Score

SIMON FRASER 0, HAWAII HILO 0 (2OT): The Clan had a dominant performance against Hawaii Hilo, but could not earn more than a tie as opposing goalkeeper Jenna Hufford made 18 saves through 110:00 minutes of play. The Clan pummeled the defense, but could not find the twine, holding a total shot advantage of 24-4. Priya Sandhu needed just two saves to earn the shutout. Box Score

CONCORDIA 0, CHICO STATE 0 (2OT): Another double-overtime game ending in a tie for a GNAC squad, with Concordia attempting to start 3-0 on the year. The Cavaliers instead moved to 2-0-1 with Olivia Brock making five saves in the shutout. The Cavaliers could put just one shot on next against Chico State, but used their defense to earn the tie. Box Score

FRI., SEPT. 11
CAL STATE STANISLAUS 4, SAINT MARTIN’S 3 (OT): The Saint’s fell behind early, but rallied in one of the best comebacks on the young season. The Saint’s trailed 3-0 before Abby McFaul scored the team’s first goal in the 68th minute. The Saint’s offense then exploded over the next 10 minutes, scoring two more goals to tie the game. McFaul added her second and Hannah Frakes tied the game up in the 79th minute. In overtime however, Stanislaus scored the golden goal to end the comeback just short. Box Score

CENTRAL WASHINGTON 2, CAL STATE MONTEREY BAY 0: The Wildcats evened their record at 2-2 with a shutout over CSUMB. The Wildcats scored a goal in each half, with the first coming by Cassie Ripley in the 18th minute. Whitney Lowe added the insurance goal in the 80th minute to seal the game for the Wildcats. Box Score

SAT., SEPT 12
WESTERN WASHINGTON 1, NOTRE DAME DE NAMUR 0: The Vikings advanced to 3-1 after dropping their first match earlier in the week. The defense was once again strong, allowing six shots and just two on net. Goalkeeper Ashley Haden made two saves in the shutout and Becca Cates scored the game-winning goal in the 55th minute. Box Score

SAN FRANCISCO STATE 1, CONCORDIA 0: The Cavaliers lost their first match of the year, giving up a 56th minute goal to fall 1-0. In a defensive matchup, the Cavaliers managed six shots and two on net, but held SFSU to just five shots on net. Nicole Franklin made three saves for the Cavaliers. Box Score

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS 2, ACADEMY OF ART 1 (2OT): Jessica Spang scored another big goal for the Yellowjackets, potting the golden goal on a cross pass in double overtime. Dana Lubieniecki had the first goal of the match in the 53rd minute, but Academy of Art tied the match in the 84th minute on their lone shot on net to send it to overtime. The Yellowjackets offense was dominant, outshooting their opponents 30-5 and 15-1 in shots on net. Box Score

SIMON FRASER 1, HAWAII PACIFIC 0: The Clan needed just one goal to defeat Hawaii Pacific in a defensive match that saw just five shots on net. Olivia Aguiar scored the game-winner in the 52nd minute, setup by Christina Dickson. Priya Sanhu needed just one save to record the shutout for the Clan. Box Score

NORTHWEST NAZARENE 1, DOMINICAN 0: The Crusaders’ Nicole Nsa scored once again, this time sending NNU to victory with it being the lone goal of the match. The match remained tied until the 66th minute, when Lexi Fesenbek setup up Nsa for the game-winner. Daniele Ortiz made eight saves, helping to earn her GNAC Defensive Player of the Week with her second shutout in three games. Box Score

SEATTLE PACIFIC 3, CAL STATE EAST BAY 2 (2OT): The Falcons defense allowed their first goals of the season, but the result remained the same as the Falcons’ Laura Moore scored the golden goal, her second of the match. The Falcons trailed for the first time this season early, allowing a seventh minute goal. Hannah Huesers tied the match up in the 15th minute and Moore took the lead in the 28th minute. Cal State East Bay tied the game late, but the Falcons flew away with the win, keeping their perfect record intact. Box Score

SUN., SEPT. 13
CAL STATE MONTEREY BAY 2, SAINT MARTIN’S 1: The Saints once again tried for a late comeback, but fell short by a goal against Cal State Monterey Bay, dropping to 0-3. Falling behind 0-2, the Saints’ Carly Bannerman. The Saints were slightly outshot 12-8, but gave themselves a chance to win at the end of the match. Goalkeeper Sunny DeBoer made seven saves. Box Score

STANISLAUS 4, CENTRAL WASHINGTON 3: The Wildcats fell to 2-3 in an offensive match, with the explosion of goals in the second half. Stanislaus led 2-0 after the first half, but the Wildcats roared back in the final 45 minutes. Michaela Wallace put CWU on the board in the 48th minute. Stanislaus extended the lead back to two in the 75th minute, but the Wildcats would not go away with a goal by Whitney Lowe in the 83rd minute before the two teams traded goals in the final four minutes of the match. Box Score

MON., SEPT. 14
SAINT MARTIN’S 4, TRINITY LUTHERAN 0: The Saints got their first win of the season in dominant fashion, shutting out Trinity Lutheran 4-0. The Saints held a shot advantage of 21-6 and 13-3 in shots on goal. Kelli Bannerman scored the first and fourth goals of the game. Abby McFaul and Brittany Orlosky each had a goal and assist in the victory. Box Score

WESTERN OREGON 1, EVERGREEN STATE 0: The Wolves did not need much offense, scoring the lone goal of the game in the first half by Makana Pundyke. The defense took care of the rest, allowing just five shots with none on net allowing goalkeeper Nicole Tejada to pick up her first victory in her first start without needing to make a save. The Wolves took 24 shots with nine on net in the match. Box Score