Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Great Northwest Athletic Conference play began this week, with eight of nine teams in action. Saint Martin’s is the lone team that will begin its conference season this week. Four shutouts highlighted Saturday’s games, with Simon Fraser and Seattle Pacific each earning shutouts in a 0-0 double-overtime draw.

Earlier in the week in non-conference play, Western Washington defeated NSCAA Top-25 No. 5 ranked St. Edward’s 2-1 on the road. The Vikings also defeated Western Oregon 1-0 on Saturday. With the wins, the Vikings jumped back over Seattle Pacific in the NSCAA West Region Polls up to No. 1, and up to No. 5 in the Top-25.

Seattle Pacific’s draw to Simon Fraser dropped them slightly from No. 7 to No. 11. The Falcons remain undefeated with a 4-0-1 record. The Falcons are also ranked No. 2 in the West Region.

Concordia won their first official GNAC match, defeating Central Washington 2-0 in front of a home crowd. Montana State Billings joins the Cavaliers and Vikings on top of the GNAC standings in the early goings.

GNAC play continues Thursday and Saturday with four matches on each day.

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
OFFENSE
Nicole Nsa, Northwest Nazarene
F • 5-7 • Senior • Lake Wood, Calif.

Nsa finished with her fourth goal in three matches and assisted on two others as the Crusaders closed non-conference play with a 5-0 shutout of Rocky Mountain on Thursday. Her four goals ranks 42nd in Division II and her 10 points ranks 45th. Also nominated: Jessica Spang (Montana State Billings), Emily Webster (Western Washington).

DEFENSE
Priya Sandhu, Simon Fraser
GK • 5-7 • Sophomore • Surrey, B.C.

Sandhu made nine saves and earned her third shutout of the season as the Clan battled No. 7 Seattle Pacific to a 0-0 tie. Her tally included a pair of saves on point-blank shots in regulation time. The sophomore has allowed just one goal in four matches and her 0.31 goals against average is 14th in Division II. Also nominated: Chloe Hopps (Montana State Billings), Mabinty Kanu (Northwest Nazarene), Sierra Shugarts (Western Washington), Molly Stinson (Seattle Pacific).

AROUND THE GNAC
CENTRAL WASHINGTON

- The Wildcats fell 2-0 to Concordia in Portland in their lone match of the week. They are 0-1 in the GNAC and 2-4 overall.

- Central Washington held the Cavaliers off the scoreboard until the 64th minute. Amanda White made eight saves to help keep the Wildcats in the match.

- Mackenzie Nolte is tied for the conference lead in assists (3), ranking her 44th in the nation.

- Goalkeeper Amanda White is second in the conference in saves (33), ranking her 47th in the nation.

- The Wildcats will be on the road once again for their lone match, traveling to Burnaby, B.C. to face Simon Fraser on Thursday.

CONCORDIA

- The Cavaliers defeated Central Washington 2-0 on Saturday in their first conference match as a member of the GNAC.

- Concordia also defeated Southern Oregon 2-0 on Monday in non-conference play. Both matches were at home.

- Olivia Brock and Nicole Franklin each recorded shutouts, needing just one save apiece.

- Brock is second in the conference in save percentage (.917) and goals against average (0.26).

- The Cavaliers are 4-1 and 1-0 in GNAC play. They will hit the road for the first time in conference play, facing Montana State Billings on Saturday.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS

- The Yellowjackets shutout Northwest Nazarene 2-0 at home on Saturday.

- Elizabeth Howard and Jessica Spang tallied the goals and Chloe Hopps made three saves to earn the shutout.

- Montana State Billings moved to 3-1-1 overall and 1-0 in the GNAC.

- Spang is tied for fourth in the GNAC and 119th in the nation with eight points. She has three goals and two assists.

- The Yellowjackets stay home over the weekend, hosting Western Oregon on Thursday and Concordia on Saturday.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE

- The Crusaders were shutout 2-0 by Montana State Billings. The Crusader defense held the Yellowjackets to four shots on net in the loss.

- Northwest Nazarene leads the league in points (34) and tied for the league lead in goals (12). They rank 36th in the nation in assists (10), which also leads the GNAC.

- Nicole Nsa paces the conference in points (10) and goals (4). She ranks 72nd and 68th in these statistics respectively.

- Goalkeeper Daniele Ortiz leads the GNAC in saves (37), ranking 31st in the nation.

- The Crusaders are 3-3-0 overall and 0-1 in the conference. They host Seattle Pacific on Thursday and Western Oregon on Saturday.

SAINT MARTIN’S

- The Saints did not compete this week. They are 1-3 overall heading into conference play.

- Abby McFaul leads the conference in points per game (1.75) and ranks fifth overall in total points (7). Her 1.75 points per game rank her 69th in the nation.

- Goalkeeper Sunny DeBoer is third in the GNAC in saves per game (5.00).

- The Saints will be on the road against Western Washington on Thursday and at home against Seattle Pacific on Saturday.

SEATTLE PACIFIC

- The Falcons tied in a 0-0 match against Simon Fraser. Molly Stinson made 10 saves to preserve the shutout.

- Seattle Pacific put nine shots on net against Simon Fraser, but could not find the back of the net. Isabel Farrell had four shots on net.

- Farrell leads the conference in shots (23) and shots per game (4.60). Laura Moore is tied for second in the conference in points (8).

- The Falcons dropped from No. 7 to No. 11 in the NSCAA Top-25 after the draw to unranked SFU.

- The Falcons, who are 4-0-1 overall and 0-0-1 in conference, hit the road for two games, facing Northwest Nazarene on Thursday and Saint Martin’s on Saturday.

SIMON FRASER

- The Clan came away with an upset draw against previously ranked No. 7 Seattle Pacific.

- Goalkeeper Priya Sandhu made nine saves in the shutout tie, earning her GNAC Defensive Player of the Week.

- Sandhu is first in the conference in goals against average (0.22) and save percentage (.944), having allowed just one goal in four matches. She is ranked eighth in the nation in goals allowed average and fifth in save percentage.

- The Clan is ranked fifth in the nation in goals against average and third in save percentage.

- The team is 2-0-2 overall and 0-0-1 in the GNAC. They host Central Washington on Thursday and Western Washington on Saturday.

WESTERN OREGON

- The Wolves fell to Western Washington 1-0 at home. Lindsey Mabinuori made seven saves in the loss.

- Mabinuori ranks fourth in the GNAC in save percentage (.870) and fifth in goals allowed average (0.61).

- The Wolves are tied for first in the conference in goals (12), ranking 65th in the nation.

- Vicky Cruz Rosales paces the team with eight points, ranking her tied for second in the conference.

- Western Oregon is 4-2-0 overall and 0-1-0 in the conference. They will be on the road at Montana State Billings on Thursday and Northwest Nazarene on Saturday.

WESTERN WASHINGTON

- The Vikings shutout Western Oregon 1-0 on the road in their first conference match. Earlier in the week, the Vikings also defeated No. 6 ranked St. Edwards 2-1 on the road.

- The two victories moved the 4-1 Vikings up to No. 5 in the NSCAA Top-25, their highest rank on the season.

- Emily Webster scored two goals over the week, including the game-winner over WOU. Catherine Miles scored the game-winner against St. Edwards. The defense allowed just four shots on net between the two matches.

- Miles ranks 14th in the nation in game-winning goals (2), tied with SPU’s Moore. Goalkeeper Ashley Haden is third in the conference and 16th in the nation in goals against average (0.495).

- The Vikings host Saint Martin’s on Thursday and then hit the road to face Simon Fraser on Saturday.