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GCU'S JACKSON, UVU'S NEFF NAMED PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Grand Canyon's Niki Jackson and Utah Valley's Alex Neff have been named Western Athletic Conference Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, for Sep. 12 - Sep. 18.
Jackson, a junior forward from Scottsdale, Ariz. (Cactus Shadows HS), scored his first career hat trick, and the first in the WAC this season, in a 3-0 win over IUPUI on Thursday night. Three of his four shots ended up in the back of the net to give the striker a team-best five goals and 11 points on the season.
Neff, a senior defender from South Weber, Utah (Northridge HS), led a UVU defense that notched two shutouts on the week. The 19th-ranked Wolverines did not allow a single shot on goal in a 1-0 win against 20th-ranked Gonzaga and followed that up with just two shots on goal allowed in a 1-0 win over CSUN on Saturday. UVU has posted three straight shutouts.
Other offensive nominees: Air Force's Austin Dewing scored two goals in a wild 4-3 win at San Francisco on Sunday … CSU Bakersfield's Hugo Vinales recorded his first career two-goal game in a 3-2 loss to UC Davis and scored the equalizer in Sunday's 2-1 win at Loyola Marymount … Seattle U's Ozzie Ramos contributed one goal and two assists as the Redhawks won a pair at home … Utah Valley's Skyler Milne scored the game-winner in Saturday's 1-0 win over CSUN.
Other defensive nominees: Air Force's Trey Pujats was an integral part on defense as the Falcons posted wins at Saint Mary's and San Francisco … CSU Bakersfield's Nicolas Clever made 12 saves over two matches as the ‘Runners split a pair of one-goal matches … Grand Canyon's Kendyl Day collected his second shutout of the season in a 3-0 win over IUPUI on Friday and made three saves in Sunday's overtime loss to Pacific … Seattle U's RJ Noll anchored the Redhawks defense that allowed just one goal in a pair of home wins, making four saves in goal.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
Heading into the final week of non-conference play, Seattle U leads the WAC in shots (109) but it's Air Force flying high to lead the league in points (51), goals (18) and assists (tied with Utah Valley at 15). Utah Valley leads the conference in goals allowed (5) and goals against average (0.71) while UNLV and CSU Bakersfield top the list of saves with 34 each.
Individually, Seattle U's Sergio Rivas has a WAC-high 24 shots. Grand Canyon's Niki Jackson and Utah Valley's Skyler Milne share the points lead with 11 while Jackson is also the leading goal scorer with five. Six players are tied for the lead in assists with three each. In goal, UVU's Elliott Rubio holds a WAC-best 0.77 goals against average. UTRGV's Leo Castillo has the top save percentage at .778 and CSU Bakersfield's Nicolas Clever is the leader in saves with 33.
NATIONALLY RANKED
Utah Valley remains a steady presence in all the national polls. The Wolverines' highest ranking is in the Top Drawer Soccer Top 25 as UVU is ranked 15th. In the NSCAA Coaches' Poll, the Wolverines are ranked 18th and in the College Soccer News Top 30, the team is ranked 19th.
BEST IN THE WEST
Utah Valley is ranked third in the NSCAA West Region Rankings for the second straight week. Seattle U is one spot back of UVU in fourth while Air Force flew up two spots to fifth, with the Falcons currently holding a four-match win streak.
NATIONAL ATTENTION
Air Force's Tucker Bone and Seattle U's Ozzie Ramos were both named to the Top Drawer Soccer team of the week after helping lead their teams to a pair of wins each.
TIP OF THE HAT
Grand Canyon's Niki Jackson scored the WAC's first hat trick of the season on Friday night, scoring three goals in a 3-0 win over IUPUI.
LEADING THE NATION
Among the 24 conferences that sponsor men's soccer, the WAC is among the best in several statistical categories. The 98 goals scored by WAC schools is third behind only the Atlantic Coast (122) and Big East (12). The WAC is also third in assists (90) and saves (284) and fourth in game-winning goals (30).
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, causing flash floods throughout the city.
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 9/19ist 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.