Wednesday, November 30, 2016

RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The 2016 GNAC Player of the Year Sierra Shugarts was named a First Team All-American by the Conference Commissioners Association, leading a total of three players from Western Washington to earn all-American recognition.

Shugarts was joined by GNAC Defensive Player of the Year Emily Webster, who was a Second Team All-American and Caitlyn Jobanek, who was an honorable mention.

The three players helped lead the Vikings to the NCAA Division II semifinals with an unbeaten record of 22-0-1, winning every game after a scoreless tie in the season opener. The Vikings are in the semifinals for the second year in a row and the third time in four years.

Shugarts was the defensive leader for the Vikings, who have only allowed eight goals all season, while producing 16 shutouts. Those 16 shutouts are the best in the West Region, giving WWU the fourth-best goals against average in the nation at 0.344. Shugarts has also scored four goals this year and assisted another as a defender.

Webster has also been a key part of the Vikings’ defensive effort, while contributing on set pieces on the offensive end. Taking the majority of free kicks for the Vikings, Webster has netted three goals and recorded a GNAC-best eight assists this year.

Jobanek’s contributions as a midfielder came on the offensive end with seven goals and seven assists so far this year, taking a team-high 74 shots. Two of her goals counted as game-winners.

On the NSCAA All-American teams, Shugarts repeated as a first-team selection and Webster was also a second-team honoree. Goalkeeper Ashley Homer was selected as a Third Team All-American. Homer has a goals against average of 0.33 which is within three-hundredths of the single-season GNAC record.

Western Washington will play Kutztown on Thursday in the NCAA Division II semifinals.