Wednesday, September 6, 2017

THIS WEEK'S GNAC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
OFFENSE
Gabriela Pelogi,  Western Washington
F • 5-4 • Junior • Federal Way, Wash.
Pelogi notched the 52nd hat trick in GNAC women’s soccer history to top a four-goal week. She had the three-goal performance in the Vikings’ season-opening 7-1 at Holy Names on Saturday. Pelogi opened the season by scoring the winning goal in the Vikings’ 3-1 victory at Notre Dame de Namur on Thursday as the defending Division II champions opened with a 2-0-0 record.

Also Nominated: Quinn Williams (Concordia), Alexa Iacolucci (Montana State Billings), Madi Taylor (Northwest Nazarene), Kasey Reeve (Seattle Pacific), Emma Pringle (Simon Fraser), Kennedy Clay (Western Oregon).

DEFENSE
Annaliese Laurila, Western Washington
D • 6-0 • Sophomore • Portland, Ore.
Laurila played 159 of a possible 180 in the Vikings’ opening two matches of the season as WWU allowed just six shots on goal in season-opening victories at Notre Dame de Namur (3-1) and Holy Names (7-1).

Also Nominated: Dana Jacobs (Western Oregon).

AROUND THE GNAC
CENTRAL WASHINGTON
LAST WEEK: Lost at UC San Diego 2-1. Lost at Cal State San Bernardino 2-1.
THIS WEEK: vs Northwest University, Thursday, 3:00 p.m.
• Central Washington lost its opening two games of the season, the first time this has happened since the 2014 campaign.
• Facing No. 10 UC San Diego on Sept. 2, the Wildcats endured 25 shots, allowing just two goals in a narrow 2-1 defeat to the Tritons.
• Similar to Saturday’s matchup, the Wildcats fell behind by two goals before cutting the margin in half against CSU San Bernardino. Central Washington goalkeeper Emily Holt recorded seven saves on 13 shot attempts.
• Mackenzie Nolte has been involved in both CWU goals scored this season, scoring in her side’s season opener and assisting in the Wildcats’ recent matchup at CSU San Bernardino.
• Through two games, the Wildcats have committed the most fouls (27) by any GNAC team in nonconference play. CWU ranks second in the GNAC with 5.50 saves per game.
• Central Washington begins a six-game homestand starting Sept. 7, as they take on the Northwest University Eagles in Ellensburg, Wash.

CONCORDIA
LAST WEEK: Won vs. San Francisco State 2-1. Lost vs. Chico State 2-0.
THIS WEEK: at Hawaii Pacific, Wednesday, 3:00 p.m. at Hawaii Hilo, Friday, 12:30 p.m.
• The Cavaliers started 2017 off on a high note, achieving a double-overtime victory against San Francsico State at Tuominen Yard on Aug. 31.
• With six minutes until the end of the second overtime period, Quinn Williams notched her second career game-winning goal for Concordia, giving her side a season-opening 2-1 victory.
•In their matchup against Chico State onSept. 2, Concordia outshot the Wildcats 13-7, but only forced four saves. Both Wildcat goals came two minutes from each other in the second half.
• Goalkeepers Anna Miller and Shannon Peth split time between the stick this past weekend. Miller recorded three saves against SFSU while Peth totaled two saves against Chico State.
• Gabrielle Ewing leads the Cavaliers with four shots thus far. Alaina Edgerly and Williams tallied the two Concordia goals.
• Concordia and Simon Fraser were the only two GNAC teams to record overtime victories this past weekend.
• The Cavaliers take a business trip to Hawaii for the next couple of days, facing off against Hawaii Pacific and Hawaii Hilo. Concordia defeated HPU in a shootout last year at Tuominen Yard, 5-3.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
LAST WEEK: Lost at Nebraska Kearney 2-1. Lost vs. Drury 2-1.
THIS WEEK: vs. Black Hills State, Friday, 11:00 a.m. vs. Colorado Christian, Sunday, 11:00 am.
• The Yellowjackets dropped a pair in Nebraska to open the season. This is the second consecutive year that MSUB has lost its opening two matchups by a combined two goals.
• In both contests this season, the Yellowjackets fell behind 2-0 before cutting the deficit in half.
• Alexa Iacolucci is tied for third on the GNAC goals list this year with two. Both of her goals over the weekend came off of set pieces (penalty kick and free kick).
• Lili Delgadillo has recorded eight saves through two games. In 17 starts last year, the junior totaled 84 saves on 271 shots.
• MSUB returns home for the 4th Annual Rimrock Classic, hosting Black Hills State on Friday and Colorado Christian on Sunday.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
LAST WEEK: Won vs. Academy of Art 5-0. Lost vs. Dixie State 2-0. Won vs. Carroll 3-0.
THIS WEEK: at San Francisco State, Thursday, 3:00 p.m. at Holy Names, Saturday, 1:00 p.m.
• The Crusaders were the only GNAC team to partake in three contests during the week.
• Northwest Nazarene secured two victories, outscoring their opponents 8-2 while keeping two shutouts.
• NNU drubbed Academy of Art, 5-0, on Aug. 31, outshooting the Knights 17-2. Madi Taylor and Kalsa Tsuruta each recorded two goals on a combined eight shots. Taylor also picked up an assist.
• Taylor picked up another goal and assist in her side’s 3-0 victory against Carroll College. She currently ranks second in goals for the GNAC with three.
• NNU is tied for first with Western Washington with nine assists. They have also given up the second-fewest goals this season at just 0.67 a game.
• Daniele Ortiz and Chloe Sholtz have combined for seven saves thus far.
• Northwest Nazarene has already matched its non-conference win total from last year, in which they went 2-3 to start the 2016 season. They also have matched its non-conference goal total from a year ago with eight.
•The Crusaders begin a two-game road trip this week, taking on San Francisco State on Thursday and finishing at Holy Names on Saturday.

SAINT MARTIN'S
LAST WEEK: Lost at Cal State Monterey Bay 6-1. Lost at Notre Dame de Namur 3-0.
THIS WEEK: vs. Westminster, Friday, 3:00 p.m. at Pacific Lutheran, Sunday, 3:00 p.m.
• The Saints fell to both Cal St. Monterey Bay and Notre Dame de Namur during their two-game California road trip.
• Shea McKnight tallied Saint Martin’s only goal, which came in a 6-1 defeat against CSU Monterey Bay on Aug. 31.
• The Saints are now 0-8-1 in season openers since defeating Cal State San Bernardino in 2008.
• SMU leads all GNAC teams with 18 saves. Goalkeepers Alie Koehler and Sara Christensen split time in goal this weekend, recording 11 and seven saves, respectively.
•Saint Martin’s matchup against Northwest University today has been canceled due to poor air quality.

SEATTLE PACIFIC
LAST WEEK: Lost at Chico State 3-2.
THIS WEEK: at Metro State, Thursday, 2:00 p.m. at UC Colorado Springs, Saturday, Noon. at Cal Poly Pomona, Tuesday, 7:00 p.m.
• Seattle Pacific was the lone team to play one game this weekend, defeated Chico State 3-2 at Interbay Stadium.
• With a home game under its belt, SPU begins a three-game road trip, starting in Colorado on Sept. 9.
• Down 2-0 at halftime, SPU stormed back to score three unanswered goals to secure its first win of the year. A Kasey Reeve goal with 2:28 remaining in regulation handed the junior her first career game-winning goal.
• Reeve finished the day with two goals. Megan Nielsen scored just five minutes into the second half, sparking the Falcon comeback.
•Through one game, Molly Stinson has recorded nine saves, ranking third out of all GNAC goalkeepers. She faced 20 shots in their matchup against Chico State.
• Along with Saint Martin’s, the Falcons have committed the least amount of fouls this season with eight. SPU is also one of two GNAC teams that have yet to receive a yellow card this season.
• Seattle Pacific takes on Metro State, UC Colorado Springs, and Cal Poly Pomona in the next six days.

SIMON FRASER
LAST WEEK: Won at Cal State East Bay 3-0. Won vs. Cal State LA 2-1.
THIS WEEK: vs. Stanislaus State, Friday, 5:00 p.m. vs. Westminster, Sunday, 1:00 p.m.
• The Clan opened its 2017 campaign with a comfortable 3-0 victory at Cal St. East Bay and a 2-1 overtime thriller agaisnt Cal State LA.
• Katelyn Erhardsen notched the game-winning penalty in SFU’s second matchup during the week to give the Clan a perfect 2-0 record.
• In Saturday’s contest against Cal St. East Bay, reigning Freshman of the Year, Emma Pringle, picked up two goals to open her scoring account.
• SFU ranks first out of all GNAC teams with a 0.46 goals against average. The Clan has allowed just one goal in 194 minutes of play.
• Simon Fraser, Seattle Pacific and Western Washington are the only undefeated GNAC teams entering the second week of matches.
• Priya Sandhu recorded nine saves during the weekend, putting her third on the GNAC goalkeeper list with 4.50 saves per game.
• The Clan continues its slate against California opposition, hosting Stanislaus State on Sept. 8. The Warriors began 2017 with a 3-0 record, outscoring their opponents 10-3.
•  Simon Fraser’s last four non-conference games will be played at Terry Fox Field. The next road fixture comes during their second GNAC contest, when they travel to play defending national champions Western Washington on Sept. 21.

WESTERN OREGON
LAST WEEK: Lost vs. Biola 3-2. Lost vs. San Francisco State 3-0.
THIS WEEK: at Hawaii Pacific, Friday, 4:00 p.m. at Chaminade, Sunday, 2:00 p.m.
• The Wolves fell 3-2 in a heartbreaking double overtime defeat to Biola University on Aug. 31. WOU led for a majority of the match until a 70th minute Biola goal turned the contest on its head.
•Western Oregon was blanked 3-0 on Saturday by San Francisco State. Wolves’ goalkeeper Caitlin Kastelic managed four saves on 14 shots.
•Thursday’s contest was played in Independence, Ore., while Saturday’s matchup was played in Salem, Ore., due to the WOU Soccer Field undergoing renovations.
• Dana Jacobs and Kennedy Clay have scored the only two Western Oregon goals this year.
• Western Oregon ranks third in the GNAC with 4.5 corner kicks per game in non-conference play.
• The Wolves travel to Hawaii to take on Hawaii Pacific and Chaminade during the weekend. These are WOU’s final two matchups before starting its conference slate on Sept. 16.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
LAST WEEK: Won at Notre Dame de Namur 3-1. Won at Holy Names 7-1.
THIS WEEK: at Metro State, Sunday, Noon.
• Western Washington dominated its California road trip, outscoring its opponents 10-2.
• The Vikings followed up an impressive 3-1 victory against Notre Dame de Namur with a 7-1 drubbing of Holy Names.
• WWU swept this week’s player of the week awards, with Gabriela Pelogi winning Offensive Player of the Week and Annaliese Laurila selected as the Defensive Player of the Week.
• Pelogi notched the 52nd hat trick in GNAC women’s soccer history to top a four-goal week. She had the three-goal performance in the Vikings’ season-opening 7-1 at Holy Names on Saturday. Pelogi opened the season by scoring the winning goal in the Vikings’ 3-1 victory at Notre Dame de Namur on Thursday.
• Pelogi is tied for fourth in Division II with her four goals.
• Laurila played 159 of a possible 180 in the Vikings’ opening two matches of the season as WWU allowed just six shots on goal in season-opening victories.
• The Vikings lead all GNAC teams in shots, points, goals, and assists.
• With the current air quality situation affecting the Pacific Northwest, WWU’s neutral-site match in Burnaby, B.C., against Cal State LA has been canceled. The Vikings continue its road slate against MSU Denver on Sept 10. They finish non-conference play against Colorado State-Pueblo on Sept. 13.