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USAFA'S DEWING, PUJATS NAMED PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Air Force's Austin Dewing and Trey Pujats have been named Western Athletic Conference Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, for Sep. 19 - Sep. 25.
Dewing, a sophomore forward from Colorado Springs, Colo. (Air Academy HS), collected the brace in Sunday's 4-1 win over Gonzaga, scoring twice against the Bulldogs. The Falcons' leader in goals (4), assists (4) and points (12) has helped lead Air Force to a three-game home winning streak headed into conference play.
Pujats, a junior midfielder from Keller, Texas (Keller HS), marked the leading scorer for Gonzaga and held him to zero shots as the Falcons earned a 4-1 win at home. He also played 77 minutes in a 1-0 loss to Omaha, who is ranked 49th in the NCAA RPI rankings.
Other offensive nominees: Grand Canyon's Niki Jackson scored the Lopes' lone goal in a 3-1 loss to Portland … Utah Valley's Karson Payton had a goal and assists in a 3-2 loss at Sacramento State, earning his way onto the Copa de Causeway All-Tournament Team.
Other defensive nominees: Grand Canyon's Kendyl Day made four saves in a 3-1 loss to Portland and has been in net for every minute GCU has played this season … Utah Valley's Alex Neff helped the Wolverines earn their fourth shutout in the last five matches in a 1-0 win at UC Davis on Saturday.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
With conference play beginning this week, Seattle U leads the WAC in shots (117) while Air Force is the leader in points (63), goals (22) and assists (19). Utah Valley is tops in goals allowed (8), goals against average (0.89) and shutouts (5). San José State leads the league in saves (46).
Individually, Grand Canyon's Niki Jackson and Seattle U's Sergio Rivas are tied for the lead in shots with 24 each. Jackson also leads the WAC in points (13) and goals (6). The Utah Valley trio of Karson Payton, Aaron Meyer and Skyler Milne are tied with Air Force's Austin Dewing for the lead in assists (4). UVU keeper Elliott Rubio holds the top goals against average (1.00) and the lead in shutouts (4). UTRGV's Leo Castillo leads the WAC in save percentage (.774) while SJSU's Nedin Tucakovic leads the league in saves (45).
CONFERENCE PLAY BEGINS
The 2016 WAC season begins this week with 10 games across the west. Leading things off on Friday is a rematch of the 2015 WAC Tournament Final between No. 21 Utah Valley and Seattle.
NATIONALLY RANKED
Utah Valley remains a steady presence in all the national polls. The Wolverines are ranked 19th in the College Soccer News Top 30 and sit at 21st in both the NSCAA Coaches Poll and Top Drawer Soccer Top 25.
REPPING IN THE RPI
In addition to sitting pretty in all the national polls, Utah Valley is ranked 10th in the first NCAA RPI rankings, which is used for tournament and hosting selection. Seattle U is ranked 52nd while Air Force is currently 79th. 48 teams make the NCAA Men's Soccer Tournament.
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.
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 9/26ist 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.