Tuesday, September 12, 2017

THIS WEEK'S GNAC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
OFFENSE
Mori Tsuchiya, Seattle Pacific 
MF • 5-11 • Senior • Seattle, Wash.
Tsuchiya scored two goals and had an assist as the Falcons improved to 3-1-0 on the season with two road wins in Colorado. He had both goals in a 2-1 win on Thursday at Metro State, which included the game-winner in the 88th minute. Tsuchiya had an assist on Gabriel Weber’s goal in the 17th minute to open scoring in the Falcons’ 3-2 win on Saturday at Colorado Christian.

Also Nominated: Brandon Madsen (Saint Martin’s), Adam Jones (Simon Fraser), Anthony Dean (Western Washington).

DEFENSE
Magnus Kristensen, Simon Fraser
DF• 6-3 • Senior • Stavanger, Norway
Kristensen anchored a SFU defensive line that allowed just two goals and seven shots on goal as the Clan won both of its matches at the Rimrock Classic in Billings. The Clan allowed four shots on goal in a 2-1 win over Cal State San Bernardino on Friday and just three on goal in a 2-1 win over No. 10 Cal Poly Pomona on Sunday.

Also Nominated: Griffin Small (Saint Martin’s), Colton Ronk (Western Washington).

AROUND THE GNAC
CONCORDIA
LAST WEEK: Lost at Regis 3-0. Lost at Colorado School of Mines 2-1.
THIS WEEK: Sept. 15 vs. Hawaii Pacific, 6 p.m.
• The Cavaliers come into Friday’s match against Hawaii Pacific with a 1-3 record after losses at Regis University and Colorado School of Mines over the weekend.
• In their contest at Regis, Grant Alcorn and Benoit Bouillant split time in goal.  Alcorn recorded six saves in while Bouillant had three.
• On Sunday afternoon, Bouillant recorded seven saves in goal for CU at Colorado School of Mines. Noah Swigart converted his first goal of the season off a Paul Seydel cross for Concordia’s lone goal.
• The Cavaliers are averaging 0.75 goals per game and have allowed 2.00 goals per game this season.  Three different players have scored this year for the Cavaliers (Reggie Reyes, Kieran McMinn and Swigart).
• Bouillant owns a 1.33 goals against average with 10 saves and a .833 saves percentage in two matches.  Alcorn has a 2.40 goals against average in three matches with 17 saves and a .739 save percentage.
• Concordia hosts HPU this Friday, September 15, in their final non-conference match of the regular season at 6 p.m.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
LAST WEEK: Lost vs. No. 10 Cal Poly Pomona 2-1. Lost vs. Cal State San Bernardino 6-1.
THIS WEEK: Sept. 14 at Mary, 5:15 p.m. Sept. 16 vs. No. 12 Upper Iowa, 3 p.m. (at Bismarck, N.D.)
• Montana State Billings hits the road for a pair of matches in Bismarck, N.D., against Mary and No. 12 Upper Iowa University.
• MSUB is looking to find the offensive rhythm it had ago (40 goals, 18 assists), as the ‘Jackets have just three goals in their first four mathes.
• MSUB’s opponents are striking 43.2 percent of their shots on target.
• Senior defender Alexis Chavez notched his first collegiate goal last week against Cal State San Bernardino.
•Senior all-conference netminder Tom Lohmann made his debut last week after an injury sidelined him for the start of the season. Lohmann made a save and allowed three goals against Cal State San Bernardino.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
LAST WEEK: Won at Cal State Dominguez Hills 2-0. Won at Azusa Pacific 3-1.
THIS WEEK: Sept. 16 vs. Cal Baptist, 3:30 p.m.
• The Crusaders achieved victories during the weekend against Cal State Dominguez Hills and Azusa Pacific, both on the road.
• Carlos Rodriguez-Diaz and Michael Bryant each scored their first goals of the season in the 2-1 victory at Cal State Dominguez Hills.
•  Rodriguez-Diaz snagged his second goal of the season just two days later, after he headed home an Edwin Quiroz cross to guide NNU to a 3-1 over Azusa Pacific.  
•Northwest Nazarene ranks first in the GNAC with two shutouts. NNU also ranks second in goals against average at 1.00.
• Through four starts, Jacob Hillyer has allowed just two goals for the Crusaders. The shot stopper has recorded 15 saves and a 0.88 save percentage.
•Northwest Nazarene finish non-conference play in Nampa, Idaho, as they host California Baptist on Saturday.

SAINT MARTIN'S
LAST WEEK: Lost at Cal State LA 2-1. Lost at Cal State San Bernardino, 2-1.
THIS WEEK: Sept. 17 vs. Hawaii Pacific, 1 p.m.
• On Sept. 5, the Saints’ matchup at Northwest University was cancelled due to the poor air quality from the surrounding forest fires.
• The Saints traveled to California for one match over the weekend, facing Cal State LA. SMU struck first after Brandon Madsen converted a Steven Chu cross to net his first-ever goal for the Saints. Saint Martin’s could not hold on for their first win of the season however, falling 2-1 to the Golden Eagles.
• Saint Martin’s ranks third in the GNAC in saves with 16, averaging 5.33 per game.
• Out of the seven GNAC team, the Saints have the least amount of offide offenses this season with 2.
• SMU will play their first home match of the regular season against Hawaii Pacific on Sept., 17. They kick off its conference slate at Western Washington on Sept. 21.

SEATTLE PACIFIC
LAST WEEK: Won at Metro State 2-1. Won at Colorado Christian 3-2.
THIS WEEK: Sept. 14 vs. Fort Hays State, 7 p.m.
• After a 1-1 start to the season, the Falcons came out with two victories during their Colorado road trip over the weekend. Seattle Pacific beat Metro State 2-1 on Thursday and won just two days later, 3-2, against Colorado Christian.
• Mori Tsuchiya’s two goal effort against Metro Sate and assist on SPU’s first goal against Colorado Christian earned him this week’s GNAC Soccer Offensive Player of the Week award.
• Garbiel Weber also factored big in his side’s win at Colorado Christian, tallying two goals and an assist on Saturday. He scored the eventual game-winner during the 68th minute of the contest.
• Seattle Pacific ranks first in the GNAC with 11 assists this season. The Falcons also rank second in goals with 10, just two behind defending champion Simon Fraser.
• The Falcons finish their non-conference schedule on Thursday, Sept. 14, as they host Fort Hays State at Interbay Stadium.

No. 2 SIMON FRASER
LAST WEEK: Won vs. Cal State San Bernardino 2-1 (at Billings, Mont.). Won vs. No. 10 Cal Poly Pomona 2-1 (at Billings, Mont.).
THIS WEEK: Sept. 15 vs. Slippery Rock, 7 p.m.
• Simon Fraser was one of four teams to participate in the 4th Annual Rimrock Classic hosted by Montana State Billings last weekend.
• First half goals by Pascal Schmidt and Rahid Rahiem led SFU to a 2-1 victory against Cal State San Bernardino.
• In their next matchup against No. 10 Cal Poly Pomona, the Clan came out as 2-1 victors, thanks to an Adam Jones 90th-minute match winner.
• Defender Magnus Kristensen was awarded this week’s GNAC Soccer Defensive Player of the Week after he anchored a SFU defensive line that allowed just two goals and seven shots on goal during the classic.
• The pair of wins sees Simon Fraser move up to No. 2 in the United Soccer Coaches Division II Poll.
• Simon Fraser hosts Slippery Rock on Sept. 15, the Clan’s final non-conference match before taking on Seattle Pacific on Sept. 21.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
LAST WEEK: Tied at Colorado Christian 2-2. Won at Metro State 2-1.
THIS WEEK: Sept. 16 vs. Fort Hays State, 7 p.m.
• Western Washington picked up its first points this weekend during its Colorado road trip to Colorado Christian and Metro State.
• In their victory agaisnt Metro State on Saturday, Anthony Dean picked up a goal and assist to lead his side to their first victory of the season.
• Dean also notched the equilizing goal against Colorado Christian to force overtime.
• Western Washington leads all GNAC teams with 60 shots, averaging 15 per game. They have also recorded a league-best 30 corner kicks.
• Goalkeeper Tyler Visten has started all four contests this year for the Vikings, posting 14 saves and a 1.78 goals against average.
• Western Washington hosts Fort Hays State this week, Sept. 16, in their final non-conference game of the season.