Monday, September 19, 2022

PORTLAND, Ore. – A pair of solid season-opening performances at the Ash Creek Collegiate meet in Monmouth headline the GNAC Athlete of the Week awards.

Western Oregon senior Hunter Hutton was named Men’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week after he won the men’s 6,000-meter race on his home course in a time of 17:51.2. He finished eight seconds ahead of the University of Portland’s Justin Hazell and led the Wolves to a third-place team finish.

Saint Martin’s sophomore Cassidy Walchak-Sloan was named the Women’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week after she placed fourth in the women’s 4,000-meter race. The top non-Division I finisher in the race, Walchak-Sloan clocked a time of 17:58.9, finishing just nine seconds behind winner Teaghan Knox of Oregon State. She led the Saints to a third-place team finish.

Alaska Anchorage senior right-side hitter Eve Stephens picked up her third Volleyball Offensive Player of the Week award of the season after she averaged 4.38 kills, 0.88 aces and one block per set with a .414 hitting percentage as the Seawolves improved to 14-1 on the season. Stephens led the way with 15 kills, four aces and three blocks with a .538 hitting percentage in Thursday’s three-set win at Montana State Billings. She added a double-double of 20 kills and 11 digs with three aces and five blocks in Saturday’s five-set win at Seattle Pacific.

Northwest Nazarene junior libero Caroline McMahon earned Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week honors as she averaged 4.78 digs per set as the Nighthawks improved to 3-0 in conference play. McMahon finished with 27 digs, five assists and an ace in Thursday’s five-set win at Saint Martin’s before coming up with 16 digs and five assists in Saturday’s four-set win at Western Oregon.

Simon Fraser freshman Chloe Tran opened both the season and her collegiate career with Women’s Golf Player of the Week honors. Tran placed fourth at the Red Leafs’ own True North Classic with a two-round score of 7-over-par 151. She shot a 73 over the first 18 holes, tying for the second-lowest round in the tournament.

Western Washington freshman forward Claire Potter was named the Women’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week after she scored a pair of game-winners to open GNAC play. Potter connected in the 24th minute of the Vikings’ 3-0 home win over Simon Fraser on Thursday. She scored what became the game-winner in the 77th minute in Saturday’s 3-2 win at No. 19 Western Oregon.

Northwest Nazarene senior goalkeeper Alexis Montoya earned Women’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week honors as she made seven saves in two wins. She made four stops in Thursday’s 2-0 win at Central Washington and added three more saves in Saturday’s 3-1 home win over Seattle Pacific.

Seattle Pacific freshman Andrew Tran picked up Men’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week accolades for his two goals and an assist in two non-conference matches. He scored in the 86th minute and had a first-half assist in Thursday’s 3-3 draw with Point Loma. He also scored a goal in Saturday’s 5-1 win over Concordia on Saturday.

Western Washington senior Patrick Restum was named the Men’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week after he posted two shutouts. He made four saves in Thursday’s 2-0 win over Concordia and made three saves in Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Point Loma.

GNAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK SELECTIONS – WEEK 5
MEN’S SOCCER OFFENSIVE
Andrew Tran (Seattle Pacific, F, 6-0, Fr., Seattle, Wash. – Garfield): Tran scored two goals on four shots as the Falcons closed non-conference play. Tran scored in the 86th minute and added an assist in the first half of a 3-3 draw with Point Loma on Thursday. He also contributed a goal in SPU’s 5-1 win over Concordia on Saturday. Also Nominated: Jeremie Briquet (Montana State Billings), Albin Jonsson (Western Washington).

MEN’S SOCCER DEFENSIVE
Patrick Restum (Western Washington, GK, 6-1, Sr., Okemos, Mich. – Univ. of Northern Michigan): Restum tallied a pair of shutouts as the Vikings ended the non-conference schedule with a 4-0-3 record. Restum finished with four saves against 14 shots in Thursday’s 2-0 win over Concordia. He made another three stops against nine shots in Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Point Loma. Also Nominated: Bryan Maxwell (Montana State Billings), Ed Weise (Seattle Pacific).

WOMEN’S SOCCER OFFENSIVE
Claire Potter (Western Washington, F, 5-9, Fr., Pasco, Wash. – Pasco): Grande tallied both game-winning goals as the Vikings went 2-0 to open conference play. She netted the early game-winner in the 24th minute of Thursday’s 3-0 home win over Simon Fraser. Potter then scored what became the game-winner in the 77th minute of Saturday’s 3-2 victory over No. 19 Western Oregon. Also Nominated: Jackie Sharpe (Montana State Billings), Madison Grande (Northwest Nazarene), Briana Kubli (Western Oregon).

WOMEN’S SOCCER DEFENSIVE
Alexis Montoya (Northwest Nazarene, GK, 5-6, Sr., West Jordan, Utah – Northern State Univ.): Montoya earned two wins in goal to commence GNAC play. She made four saves against nine shots in Thursday’s 2-0 win at Central Washington on Thursday. Montoya added three saves as the Nighthawks scored a 3-1 win over Seattle Pacific on Saturday. Also Nominated: Clare Keenan (Montana State Billings), Nicole Anderson (Simon Fraser), Marissa Bankey (Seattle Pacific), Elizabeth Parker (Western Oregon), Tera Ziemer (Western Washington).

VOLLEYBALL OFFENSIVE
Eve Stephens (Alaska Anchorage, RS, 6-1, Sr., Palmer, Alaska – Colony): Stephens led Alaska Anchorage with 4.38 kills per set, 0.88 aces per set and 1.00 blocks per set with a .414 hitting percentage as the Seawolves improved to 4-0 in conference play and 14-1 overall. Stephens finished with 15 kills, four aces and three blocks with a .538 hitting percentage in a three-set sweep at Montana State Billings on Thursday. She then led UAA with a double-double of 20 kills, 11 digs, three aces and five blocks in Saturday’s five-set win at Seattle Pacific. Also Nominated: Tia Andaya (Central Washington), Natalie Sullivan (Northwest Nazarene), Brooke Dexter (Simon Fraser), Olivia Fairchild (Western Washington).

VOLLEYBALL DEFENSIVE
Caroline McMahon (Northwest Nazarene, L, 5-8, Jr., Medford, Ore. – Cascade Christian): McMahon averaged 4.78 digs per set at the Nighthawks improved to 3-0 in conference play, 10-1 overall, and extended their eight-match win streak. She finished with 27 digs, five assists and an ace in Thursday’s five-set win at Saint Martin’s. McMahon added totals of 16 digs and five assists in Saturday’s four-set win at Western Oregon.  Also Nominated: Talia Leauanae (Alaska Anchorage), Emma Daoud-Hebert (Central Washington), Chloe Roetcisoender (Western Washington).

MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
Hunter Hutton (Western Oregon, Jr., Bandon, Ore. – Bandon): Making his season debut on his home course, Hutton was the winner at Friday’s Ash Creek Invitational. He covered the 6,000-meter course in a time of 17:51.2, finishing eight seconds ahead of Justin Hazell of Portland. Hutton led the Wolves to a third-place team finish. Also Nominated: Ase Ackerman (Montana State Billings), Sebastian Brinkman (Simon Fraser).

WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
Cassidy Walchak-Sloan (Saint Martin’s, So., Olympia, Wash. – Olympia): Walchak-Sloan was the top non-Division I finisher at the Ash Creek Invitational on Friday, placing fourth in a time of 17:58.9 over 5,000 meters. She helped lead the Saints to a third-place team finish with a score of 70 points. Also Nominated: Kailee Stoppel (Montana State Billings), Megan Roxby (Simon Fraser).

WOMEN’S GOLF
Chloe Tran (Simon Fraser, Fr., Langley, B.C. – Walnut Grove): Tran opened her collegiate career with a fourth-place finish in the Red Leafs’ own True North Classic, carding a two-round score of 7-over-par 151. She shot a 73 on the opening round, tying for the second-lowest round of the tournament. Tran led Simon Fraser to a second-place team finish. Also Nominated: Elle McCord (Northwest Nazarene), Emma Worgum (Western Washington).