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UIW'S NEVAREZ, USAFA'S SCHENK NAMED PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
UIW's Daniel Nevarez and Air Force's Jake Schenk have been named Western Athletic Conference Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, for Sep. 5 - Sep. 11.
Nevarez, a junior midfielder from Las Cruces, N.M. (Winfrey Academy), helped propel the Cardinals out of an early season slump, scoring a goal and assisting on two others in a big 5-2 win at Oral Roberts on Friday. He followed that up with two shots on goal in a 1-1 tie at Central Arkansas on Sunday.
Schenk, a senior goalkeeper from Flemington, N.J. (Hunterdon Central), was perfect between the pipes on Friday night, making one save in a 6-0 win at home over Bryant. It was Schenk's second shutout in as many tries as the veteran cadet has yet to allow a goal this season.
Other offensive nominees: Air Force's Ryan Ward had a pair of assists on the weekend as the Falcons earned wins over Bryant and UC Riverside … Grand Canyon's Niki Jackson scored the game-winning goal in a neutral-site match with Missouri State on Friday … Utah Valley's Karson Payton scored a goal and assisted on another in Sunday's 3-0 win over Northern Illinois.
Other defensive nominees: UIW's Jorge Guzman made 10 total saves as the Cardinals won at Oral Roberts on Friday and played to a 1-1 tie at Central Arkansas on Sunday … Grand Canyon's Khadim Seye made the Grange and Ashwill All-Tournament Team as the Lopes split matches against Missouri State and host New Mexico … UT Rio Grande Valley's Leo Castillo made seven saves before allowing the winning goal in the second overtime of a 1-0 loss to Cal State Fullerton … Utah Valley's Giovanny Vazquez was named to the all-tournament team at the NIU Adidas Invitational.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
UIW leads the conference in shots with 77 this season. Utah Valley is the leader in points (33) and assists (13) while Air Force is flying high with a league-best 11 goals this season. UT Rio Grande Valley holds the top goals against average at 0.93 while UNLV has a WAC-best 31 saves this season.
Individually, Seattle U's Sergio Rivas leads the conference in shots (17) while Utah Valley's Skyler Milne has a league-high 9 points. UVU's Paul Hoffmeister is the early leader in goals with four while four players are tied for the lead in assists with three each. Air Force keeper Jake Schenk holds a 0.00 goals against average and 1.000 save percentage in 180:00 minutes in goal. San Jose State's Nedin Tuckovic leads the WAC in saves with 24.
NATIONALLY RANKED
Utah Valley continues to climb in the national polls, moving up to eighth in the Top Drawer Soccer Top 25, 12th in the NSCAA Coaches' Poll and 14th in the College Soccer News Top 30. Seattle U remains nationally ranked in the TDS Top 25 at 24 and is among those receiving votes in the other national polls.
BEST IN THE WEST
The WAC continues to be well-represented in the NSCAA West Region Rankings. Utah Valley remains steady at number two, trailing only Denver. Seattle U is fourth, followed by UNLV at seventh and Grand Canyon at ninth.
FREE SOCCER
Six games went to extra time this week, including give overtime games on Sunday. Air Force was the lone WAC school to prove victorious in overtime, defeating UC Riverside, 2-1, at Cadet Soccer Stadium.
SKY'S THE LIMIT
UVU forward Skyler Milne was named to the College Soccer News Team of the Week after earning MVP honors at the Hotels at Grand Prairie Classic in Peoria, Ill.
THE HOFF
After scoring twice in a home win over Washington, Utah Valley's Paul Hoffmeister was named to the College Soccer News Team of the Week. He was also listed among those considered for the Top Drawer Soccer Team of the Week after the opening week of the season.
RAINED OUT
After playing 45 minutes, the season opener between Central Arkansas and UMKC was officially cancelled with UCA leading 1-0 after a storm went through Kansas City on Friday night, causing flash floods throughout the city. The ‘Roos will now officially open the season on Wednesday at Tulsa.
BJORNETHUN, OLSEN HIGHLIGHT PRESEASON ALL-WAC SQUAD
Seattle U defender Kyle Bjornethun and forward David Olsen were selected as WAC Preseason Defensive and Offensive Player of the Year respectively in a vote of the league's 11 head coaches, who could not vote for their own team or players. Redhawks midfielder Sergio Rivas joining his teammates on team. Utah Valley had three players as Skyler Milne, Paul Hoffmeister and Alex Neff all picked up preseason honors. UNLV and San José State each had two players with the Rebels represented by Danny Musovski and Richard Garness and the Spartans represented by Rory Knibbs and Jonathan Colunga. Grand Canyon's Amer Sasivarevic represented the Lopes to round out the 11-player squad.
THREE NAMED TO MAC HERMANN WATCH LIST
Seattle U's Kyle Bjornethun and David Olsen and UNLV's Danny Musovski are among those on the watch list for the 2016 Missouri Athletic Club's (MAC) Hermann Trophy. Olsen was a semiThrough 9/12ist for the 2015 WAC Hermann Trophy, Bjornthun was the 2015 WAC Defensive Player of the Year and Musovski earned 2015 WAC Offensive Player of the Year honors. All three were also named NSCAA All-Americans last season with Olsen earning First Team honors and Bjornethun and Musovski each picking up Second Team honors.
PRESEASON ALL-AMERICANS
After helping the Redhawks bust onto the national scene last season, Seattle U forward David Olsen and defender Kyle Bjornethun were named First Team Preseason All-Americans by CollegeSoccerNews.com. UNLV forward Danny Musovski was also recognized, earning second team honors.
Bjornethun also earned First Team honors from Top Drawer Soccer. Olsen was a Second Team selection in the TDS Preseason Best XI while Musovski and Utah Valley's Alex Neff earned third team honors. Grand Canyon defender Hector Montalvo rounded out the WAC players honored, being named to the Freshman First Team.
PLAYING THE BEST
The WAC has eight non-conference games against participants from the 2015 NCAA Men's Soccer Tournament. Seattle U is playing two postseason participants, traveling to both Akron and Dartmouth. San José State is also taking on two postseason schools on the road, traveling to defending champion Stanford and Santa Clara. UIW will tak on SMU, Air Force meets Cal Poly, UT Rio Grande Valley plays Cal State Fullerton and UMKC heads to Creighton.
COMING TO YOU LIVE
The WAC Digital Network will broadcast 28 regular season games and all five games of the 2016 WAC Men's Soccer Tournament in Orem, Utah.