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KEATS AND AUNE NAMED WAC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Incarnate Word forward Noah Keats and Seattle U defender Nathan Aune have been named Western Athletic Conference Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, for Sept. 14-20.
Keats, a senior from Exeter, England (The King's School),earns his second straight offensive player of the week award after recording his first career hat trick in an 8-1 win over Central Arkansas. He leads the conference in goals with seven scored in six games. His four game-winning goals are also a conference best.
Aune, a freshman from Arlington, Wash. (Arlington HS), played all 180 minutes for the Redhawks over the weekend and was a key factor in Friday's 2-0 shutout of Harvard. He also played a crucial role in shutting down Dartmouth to allow a Seattle U comeback on Sunday. Friday's shutout was the Redhawks' fourth in six games.
Other offensive nominees: Houston Baptist's George Kelley put in the game-winner in Sunday's 1-0 win over Central Arkansas … Seattle U's Sergio Rivas scored both of the Redhawks' goals against Harvard and assisted on the game-winner against Dartmouth … UT Rio Grande Valley's Miko Puuskari scored the first goal of the match on Friday at San Diego State … Utah Valley's Aaron Meyer scored the games' only goal in a 1-0 win at Gonzaga and then scored the equalizer on Sunday at nationally-ranked Denver.
Other defensive nominees: Houston Baptist's Chance Pope registered his second shutout of the season in Sunday's win over Central Arkansas … Incarnate Word's Joe Brown helped anchor the Cardinals' defense that allowed only three shots on goal in a blowout win over Central Arkansas … Utah Valley's Giovanny Vazquez helped the Wolverines earn a shutout at Gonzaga and was responsible for a team save at Denver.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
With conference play rapidly approaching, Seattle U leads the WAC in shots (124). Incarnate Word is the league-leader in points (44), goals (16) and assists (12). Seattle U also leads the WAC in goals allowed (3), goals against average (0.43) and is tied with Utah Valley for the lead in shutouts (4). UTRGV is tops in saves (36) in its first year as a resumed program.
Individually, Grand Canyon's Alberto Sanchez Garcia leads the league in shots (27). Two-time offensive player of the week Noah Keats of Incarnate Word leads the conference in points (16) and goals (7). Four players are tied for the lead in assists with three each while Keats also holds the lead in game-winning goals with four. In goal, Seattle U's Shane Haworth has a WAC-best 0.43 goals against average and .870 save percentage. UTRGV's Leo Castillo has a league-high 31 saves to lead the WAC.
AMONG THE BEST
As a conference, the WAC is second nationally in goals scored with 114 and in wins with 36. The conference is also third nationally in shutouts with 22.
TOP OF THE CLASS
CSU Bakersfield midfielder Christian Duarte has been selected as one of 30 men's soccer student-athletes listed as candidates for the 2015 Senior CLASS Award. To be eligible for the award, a student-athelte must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competiton.
REGIONALLY RANKED
The WAC has three teams in the top five of the latest NSCAA West Region rankings. Utah Valley leads the league, ranked third. UNLV is just one spot back at fourth, followed by Seattle U at fifth. Incarnate Word made its debut this week, holding down the 10th position.
GOAL! GOAL! GOAL! GOAL!
Seattle U forward Hamza Haddadi made the most of his season opener, tying the WAC record for goals in a game with four. The feat was last completed by New Mexico's Justin Sells on 1996 against Fort Lewis.
WAC MEN'S SOCCER EXPANDS TO 11 TEAMS
For 2015, the WAC will be expanding to 11 teams with the addition of UT Rio Grande Valley. The league is made up of both full time members of the WAC and affiliates: Air Force (affiliate), CSU Bakersfield, Grand Canyon, Houston Baptist (affiliate), Incarnate Word (affiliate), Missouri-Kansas City, San José State (affiliate), Seattle U, UTRGV and Utah Valley. Regular-season play will consist of a single round-robin format between all 11 teams for a total of 10 matches. The points system will be used to determine conference standings. Each team will receive three points for a win and one point for a tie. The top six teams will advance to the WAC tournament Nov. 12-13 and 15. Grand Canyon and Incarnate Word are ineligible due to their transition from Division II to Division I.
ONES TO WATCH
Three WAC men's soccer players have already found themselves among the top college soccer players in the country as CSU Bakersfield's Christian Duarte and Julian Zamora and UNLV's Rodrigo Fuentes were among 30 players mentioned on the Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy watch list. The MAC Hermann Trophy goes to the top male and female college soccer players, as voted upon by coaches across the country.
REDHAWKS AND REBELS FAVORITES TO WIN WAC TITLE
Seattle U narrowly edged past UNLV in the preseason coaches poll with both the Redhawks and Rebels picking up five first-place votes. CSU Bakersfield earned the remaining first place vote as the Roadrunners were picked third in the preseason poll. Utah Valley earned the fourth place position ahead of fifth-place San José State. Missouri-Kansas City and Incarnate Word tied for sixth place followed by Grand Canyon, Air Force, Houston Baptist and first-year program UTRGV.
NCAA OPPONENTS
WAC teams will play in 14 matches against teams that played in the NCAA Tournament last year. Four of the matches will be played at WAC home sites with Seattle U hosting two and Missouri-Kansas City and Utah Valley each hosting one. Seattle U leads all teams with four matches against postseason participants, followed by two each for Utah Valley, Missouri-Kansas City and San José State. CSU Bakersfield, Grand Canyon, Houston Baptist and UTRGV will all play one.
Aug. 29 CSU Bakersfield at Denver
Sep. 3 Seattle U vs. Northwestern (at Spokane, Wash.)
Sep. 4 Missouri-Kansas City at SIU Edwardsville
Sep. 10 San José State at Stanford
Sep. 13 Houston Baptist vs. Hartwick (at Spokane, Wash.)
Sep. 27 Seattle U at Oregon State
Sep. 20 Dartmouth at Seattle U
Sep. 20 Utah Valley at Denver
Sep. 20 San José State at San Diego
Sep. 20 UTRGV at CSU Fullerton
Sep. 21 Tulsa at Missouri-Kansas City
Sep. 24 Washington at Seattle U
Sep. 24 CSU Fullerton at Utah Valley
Sep. 27 Grand Canyon at CSU Fullerton
2015 WAC TOURNAMENT
The WAC Men's Soccer Tournament will be held In Kansas City, Mo., November 12-13 and 15. The top six eligible teams will participate (Grand Canyon and Incarnate Word are ineligible due to their transition from Division II to Division I).