Wednesday, November 30, 2022

PORTLAND, Ore. – Northwest Nazarene’s Lorenzo Valentini and Simon Fraser’s Mark Talisuna lead the way as first-team honorees for six GNAC selections to the 2022 United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division II Men’s All-West Region Teams.

The pair of D2CCA and All-GNAC first-teamers were key players in successful seasons for their respective programs. Valentini captained the Nighthawks’ deep run to the quarterfinals of the NCAA  Division II Men’s Soccer Championships. The minute-munching senior defender started all 22 of NNU’s matches this season, adding offensive upside with a goal and an assist through just under 2,000 minutes on the back line.

In addition to leading the defense against high-caliber offense through the GNAC schedule, Valentini was instrumental against high-scoring opponents Cal State LA, Cal State Dominguez Hills and CSU Pueblo in the postseason. He was on the field for every minute of the Nighthawks’ postseason push.  

Talisuna was named to the United Soccer Coaches All-West Region First Team after being named the GNAC Player of the Year. He started every match for Simon Fraser and logged over 1,500 minutes as the Red Leafs finished runner-up in the conference standings. Talisuna was SFU’s go-to man for penalty kicks, going a perfect three-for-three from the spot.

Seattle Pacific senior goalkeeper Lars Helleren, Western Washington freshman forward Albin Jonsson and Northwest Nazarene’s senior midfielder Ethan Atterberry and senior forward Jake Levine were all named to the second team.

Helleren, another first team All-GNAC selection, recorded eight shutouts across 19 starts while posting a .682 save percentage that ranked fifth in the GNAC and a 1.14 goals against average that ranked third. His eight shutouts finish the year tied for the conference lead and rank 10th in Division II.

Jonsson was named to the second team after earning the GNAC Freshman of the Year award as a first team all-conference selection. He led the Vikings and the conference in scoring with nine goals and five assists over 18 matches, only missing one contest on the year.

Northwest Nazarene leads the GNAC with three selections between both teams. Atterberry, an All-GNAC first team selection, started all but one of NNU’s regular season matches and all four of the Nighthawks' postseason contests. He finished the season with two goals and four assists, including an assist on the on the game-winning goal against Cal State LA to advance to the third round of the NCAA Championships.

Levine, a second team All-GNAC honoree, was selected after wrapping up his senior season as the all-time leading goal scorer in program history for the Nighthawks.He added nine goals and three assists to his totals this season with one of those goals coming in the postseason against West Texas A&M.