DENVER - Grand Canyon's Niki Jackson and Seattle U's Kyle Bjornethun have been named Western Athletic Conference Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, for Oct. 17 - 23.
Jackson, a junior forward from Phoenix (Cactus Shadows HS), scored three goals in two games to retain his lead atop the WAC's scoring list. He scored his 12th and 13th goals of the season in Friday's 5-1 win over UMKC and added his 14th goal in a 1-0 win over UIW, the match's only score. He would rank third nationally in goals if GCU was eligible for NCAA statistical rankings and also has eight goals in WAC matches. This is Jackson's third weekly honor this season.
Bjornethun, a senior defender from Snohomish, Wash. (Glacier Peak HS), played all 200 minutes on the Redhawk back line. On the road at UIW on Friday, he helped Seattle U hold on for a 1-1 draw in San Antonio. In Sunday's 3-0 win over UT Rio Grande Valley, he helped SU stay undefeated at home and in WAC play, adding an assist on the game-winning goal by Alex Roldan.
Other offensive nominees: Air Force's John Sims logged his fifth goal of the season in a 3-0 shutout of UMKC on Sunday … UNLV's Danny Musovski posted his second five-point match of the season, scoring twice and assisting on another goal in Friday's win over Air Force … Seattle U's Alex Roldan scored a goal in each of the Redhawks' matches last week to help keep SU atop the WAC table … UT Rio Grande Valley's Isidro Martinez recorded his first career multi-assist match in Friday's 2-0 win at CSU Bakersfield … Utah Valley's Aaron Meyer assisted on both of UVU's goals in a 2-1 win at San José State.
Other defensive nominees: Air Force's Trey Pujats helped the Falcons earn the shutout on Saturday against UMKC … Grand Canyon's Kendyl Day made four saves to earn his fourth shutout of the season in a 1-0 win over UIW on Sunday …Utah Valley's Alex Neff helped UVU to a fifth-straight shutout on Friday against Houston Baptist.