Wednesday, November 16, 2016

PORTLAND, Ore. – With the NCAA West Regional final on the horizon, several GNAC athletes earned spots on the Division II Conference Commissioners Association All-West Region Team, including three players from Western Washington and defending Player of the Year Hannah Huesers named to the first team.

GNAC Player of the Year Sierra Shugarts from Western Washington earned her first all-region honor after leading a WWU defense that has a goals against average of 0.28, on pace to set the GNAC record. As the leader of the Vikings’ defensive line, Shugarts is a big reason that the Vikings have only allowed 134 shots this season, and of the ones that were on frame, only 14 percent found the back of the net.

Also named to the first team, Emily Webster is another contributor to the Vikings’ defensive success as a midfielder. She earned GNAC Defensive Player of the Year and leads the Vikings in minutes played apart from the goalkeeper position. Webster also has taken most of the Vikings free kicks, allowing her to tally three goals and six assists.

The third first-team selection from Western Washington was senior midfielder Caitlyn Jobanek, who has registered seven goals and five assists. As a midfielder, she has helped the Vikings dominate possession of the ball all season, resulting in a 484-134 shooting advantage so far this year.

Huesers was the conference’s leading goal-scorer with 13 on the season, leading the Falcons to the GNAC championship match and to their 13th consecutive playoff appearance. Four of Huesers goals resulted in game winners as the Falcons finished the year 11-5-4. In her career, Huesers tallied 48 career goals, which was just one shy of the school and GNAC records.

Central Washington landed three players on the second team. The midfield duo of Keilin Farrand and Mackenzie Nolte both represented the Wildcats along with defender Allie Bohnett. Nolte tallied seven goals and two assists, while Farrand added five goals and six assists to lead the Wildcats’ offense. Bohnett led the defensive side of things for CWU, which recorded seven shutouts this season.

GNAC Freshman of the Year Emma Pringle from Simon Fraser earned Second Team All-West Region recognition, and was one of only two freshmen to do so. Pringle scored nine goals, which was the second-best in the conference and assisted three goals, while scoring a conference-best five game-winners.

The Vikings were represented by two more players on the second team. The WWU points leader Gabriela Pelogi has scored eight goals with seven assists this year to earn her spot on the second team. She was joined by goalkeeper Ashley Homer, who has only allowed five goals all year and recorded 13 shutouts. Homer is on pace to set the GNAC record for goals against average.

Western Washington will play UC San Diego on Friday. The Tritons had seven players named to the first team, including West Region Player of the Year Katie O’Laughlin. The winner will advance to the last eight, where they will play the South Central Regional champion.