Wednesday, September 14, 2022

THIS WEEK'S GNAC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
OFFENSIVE
Madison Grande, Northwest Nazarene
M • 5-5 • Junior • Gig Harbor, Wash.
Grande scored in both matches this week for the Nighthawks. On Tuesday, she netted the second goal of the game for NNU in the 36th minute to put the Nighthawks up by two. Her GNAC-leading third goal of the season came on Saturday against Westminster (Utah) to tie the match.

Also Nominated: Jackie Sharp (MSUB), Kate Cartier (SFU), Dayana Diaz (WWU)

DEFENSIVE
Kassandra Jaggard, Central Washington
GK • 5-7 • Sophomore • San Diego, Calif.
Jaggard started in both matches for the Wildcats last week, shutting out then No. 22 Colorado Springs with a seven-save performance on Wednesday. She added another save on Friday in a 1-0 loss at MSU Denver.

Also Nominated: Tuva Sallvin (MSUB), Bailey Blancett (NNU), Emily Smith (SFU)

AROUND THE GNAC
CENTRAL WASHINGTON
• Central Washington closed out its non-conference schedule with a 0-0 draw against then No. 22 Colorado Springs on Wednesday and a 1-0 loss to MSU Denver on Friday.

• Wildcats goalkeeper Kassandra Jaggard earned GNAC Defensive Player of the Week honors with a seven-save performance on Wednesday and enters conference play with a .875 save percentage which ranks fifth best in the GNAC.

• Central Washington will open its conference schedule at home against Northwest Nazarene on Thursday and will look to hold back a Nighthawks offense that has been scoring at a two-goals-per-match pace. The Wildcats will continue their homestand on Saturday against Montana State Billings.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
• Montana State Billings earned a pair of 1-1 draws last week. The Yellowjackets faced Minot State at home on Tuesday and Black Hills State on Friday.

• Goalkeeper Tuva Sallvin made 11 saves in net for the Yellowjackets on Friday while fellow keeper Clare Kennan made five saves of her own on Friday.

• The Yellowjackets are still looking for their first win of the season heading into conference play with strong performances in net anchoring the team to a pair of ties to close out the non-conference schedule.

• Montana State Billings will play its first match of the season against GNAC competition at home against Seattle Pacific on Thursday before hitting the road to face Central Washington in Ellensburg on Saturday.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
• Northwest Nazarene took a pair of wins at home to finish its non-conference schedule with a 4-2 victory over Hawaii Pacific on Tuesday and a 2-1 win against Westminster (Utah) on Saturday.

• The Nighthawks’ offense was dominant on Tuesday against the Sharks, with Ashley Parton, Madison Grande, Allison Wolf and Alejandra Jaramillo all finding the back of the net in a match where NNU outshot Hawaii Pacific 19-8.

• Northwest Nazarene had to come from behind to take its second win of the week after surrendering a goal in the seventh minute. Grande tied the match at 1-1 before the end of the first half and Yacine Bitibale put home the game-winner in the 73rd minute.

• Grande’s two-goal week earned her the GNAC Offensive Player of the Week Award. She leads the conference in goals with three in four matches.

• Northwest Nazarene will open its conference schedule on the road at Central Washington on Thursday before returning home to face Seattle Pacific on Saturday.

SAINT MARTIN’S
• Saint Martin’s played its final game of the non-conference schedule at home against Cal St. Monterey Bay on Saturday and took a 2-1 win.

• The Saints got all their scoring done in the first half with goals from Maria Pagnotta and Alyssa Carapia.

• Saints goalkeeper Ali Campigotto made 10 saves in her first match of the season to earn the win.

• Saint Martin’s open’s conference play at Western Oregon on Thursday and return home to face Simon Fraser on Saturday.

SEATTLE PACIFIC
• Seattle Pacific started the week with a 2-2 draw against Westminster (Utah) in Salt Lake City on Monday with Chloe Gellhaus scoring both goals for the Falcons in the first half.

• On Friday the Falcons dropped their match against Colorado Mines 2-0 despite outshooting their opponents 17-8.

• Seattle Pacific is still looking to translate their impressive shot totals into goals. The Falcons average 12.25 shots per match, which ranks third in conference, but are tied for fifth in conference with just four goals.

• Seattle Pacific will be on the road this week to start its GNAC schedule. The Falcons open the week in Billings where they’ll face the Yellowjackets on Thursday and then head to Nampa to take on the Nighthawks.

SIMON FRASER
• Simon Fraser earned a pair of draws against CCAA competition to close out its non-conference schedule. The Red Leafs opened their week on Thursday at Cal St. Dominguez Hills with a 1-1 final score and closed the week with a 2-2 stalemate on Saturday at Cal St. Los Angeles.

• Katie Cartier scored her first goal of the season on Thursday for Simon Fraser off an assist from Isabella Muzzolini. The assist is Muzzolini’s first point for the Red Leafs after transferring from Division I Georgia.

• On Saturday, the Red Leafs received goals from Kaylese Callender and Kiara Buono who each netted their first of the season against the Golden Eagles.

• Simon Fraser will open its conference schedule with two matches on the road starting with a trip to Bellingham to face Western Washington on Thursday before heading to Lacey to take on Saint Martin’s on Saturday.

WESTERN OREGON
• Western Oregon only played one match last week to round out its non-conference schedule and remains undefeated after earning a 1-1 draw against Cal St. Monterey Bay on Sunday in Monmouth.

• Freshman forward Leeci Snyder tallied her second goal of the season in the draw to give the Wolves the initial lead.

• Olivia Holdenried was only forced to make a pair of saves against Cal St. Monterey Bay. She leads the GNAC with 26 saves.

• The Wolves are the only team in the conference to remain ranked in the United Soccer Coaches Division II Poll at No. 19.

• Western Oregon will have the benefit of beginning its conference schedule with a homestand as Saint Martin’s makes the trip to Monmouth on Thursday and Western Washington comes to town on Saturday.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
• Western Washington played its only match of the week on Tuesday in a 1-1 draw against No. 7 Point Loma before poor air quality forced the Vikings’ match against Colorado Mines at home to be canceled.

• Dayana Diaz converted on a penalty kick opportunity in the first half to give the Vikings the initial lead with her first goal of the season.

• Vikings goalkeeper Claire Henninger recorded five saves against 15 shots in the draw.

• Western Washington will open conference play at home as Simon Fraser comes to Bellingham on Thursday before hitting the road to take on Western Oregon on Saturday.