Wednesday, November 20, 2019

PORTLAND, Ore. – Following a historic season that saw Western Washington complete a perfect 12-0-0 run in conference play and win the 2019 GNAC Championships, the Vikings dominated the conference’s selections to the Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) All-West Region Team.

The Vikings landed five players to the All-West Region Team, including four first-teamers in senior forward Karli White, junior midfielder Grace Eversaul and senior defenders Emily Nelson and Peyton Chick.

Following an exceptional return to the pitch in 2019 that earned selection as the GNAC Player of the Year, White was the primary playmaker for a Viking offense that outscored its opponents 55-8. White netted six goals while leading the conference and ranking 34th in Division II with eight assists.

Nelson was named the GNAC Defensive Player of the Year after she anchored a Vikings’ defense that allowed just eight goals on the season. With Nelson leading the backline, the Vikings led the conference with 13 shutouts and a 0.40 goals against average. She also contributed on offense as she scored three goals.

Eversaul was a unanimous selection to the All-GNAC First Team after she scored five goals and added five assists to total 15 points in her junior campaign. Chick joins her three teammates on the All-West Region First Team after being selected as a GNAC honorable mention.

After earning First Team All-GNAC honors for the second consecutive season, junior goalkeeper Natalie Dierickx landed on the All-West Region Second Team. Dierickx led the conference with eight shutouts and an .822 save percentage while ranking 12th in Division II with a 0.45 goals against average.

Western Oregon is represented on the second team by junior forward Alyssa Tomasini and senior defender Jacky Beristain. Tomasini was a nightmare for opposing defenses in 2019 as she topped the GNAC with nine goals, four game-winners and 25 points while also ranking second in the conference with seven assists. Beristain solidified the Western Oregon backline as the Wolves finished third in the conference in goals allowed (22) and goals against average (1.11) while also ranking second with seven shutouts.

The conference’s four first-team selections will go forward to be considered for the D2CCA All-America Team, which will be announced on Dec. 11.