Aug. 25, 2010

SPOKANE, Wash. - Just about every men's soccer team in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference has high hopes and expectations entering the 2010 season that begins next Thursday (Sept. 2).

A year ago, Saint Martin's won its first-ever GNAC team championship in the nine-year history of the conference --- in any sport.

With virtually every player returning including eight all-stars the Saints figured to be the favorite in the GNAC's pre-season coaches poll.

And they are. But they are certainly not a sure thing.

A year ago, the top four teams in the conference race were separated by just two games. With the addition of perennial NAIA powerhouse Simon Fraser to the mix, it figures to be another extremely tight race.

At least that's the way the coaches see it. The Saints did receive three first-place votes in the coaches' poll, but finished just four points ahead of Simon Fraser and Seattle Pacific in the balloting and only six ahead of Western Washington.

SFU, which reached the NAIA national semifinals last season, earned two first-place votes, while Seattle Pacific received one.

Montana State Billings, which graduated Daktronics NCAA Division II National Player-of-the-Year Sam Charles, finished fifth in the balloting six points ahead of Northwest Nazarene.

Nine of the top 10 scorers from a year ago are back and every team except Western Washington returns its starting goalkeeper.

Great Northwest Coaches Poll 2009 Records Points1. Saint Martin's (3) 11-7-0 (6-2-0) 302. Simon Fraser (2) 20-4 (None) 26   Seattle Pacific (1) 11-5-3 (4-3-1) 264. Western Washington 8-11-1 (5-3-0) 245. Montana State Billings 11-5-2 (3-3-2) 136. Northwest Nazarene   5-11-1 ((0-7-1) 7Note: First-place votes in parenthesis. Points awarded on a 6-5-4-3-2-1 basis).

Every team in the conference also has at least four returning all-stars, but none have more than the Saints which posted the first winning season in the three-year history of their program under 2009 GNAC Coach-of-the-Year Rob Walker (9-27-1, 3 years).

Walker's lineup will feature three first-team all-conference players, including forward Xan Nixon (6-1, Jr., Seattle, WA - Roosevelt), midfielder Ruben Orozco (5-11, Sr., Des Moines, WA - Mt. Rainier) and six-six goalkeeper Zac Lubin (Sr., Bozeman, MT).

Nixon ranked third in the GNAC in scoring last season with 23 points on nine goals and five assists, while Orozco scored five goals and had two assists.

Lubin started all 18 games for the Saints and had two shutouts and a .714 save percentage. His goals against average of 1.49 ranked third in the GNAC.

Also back for the Saints are midfielder Vlad Voin (5-10, Sr., Everett, WA - Cascade), who had three goals and the third most assists (8) in the conference, along with four all-star defenders.

Voin was a second team all-conference selection as was Erik Orozco (5-6, Sr., Federal Way, WA - Decatur). Orozco played in the back last season, but is listed on the SMU roster this season as a midfielder.

Defenders Brandon Scott (5-7, So., 1-4-6, Tacoma, WA - Wilson), Tony Armitage (5-10, Jr., 0-2-2, Auburn, WA - Kennedy) and James Schmidt (5-10, Jr., Maple Valley, WA - Tahoma) were all honorable mention selections.

Also returning from Walker's 2009 starting lineup are forward Conner Biggs (6-2, So., 5-0-10, Kent, WA - Kentwood) and midfielders Austin Kelley (6-2, Jr., 2-1-5, Olympia, WA) and Victor Kelmel (6-1, Sr., 2-1-5, Port Orchard).

Eight other lettermen also return including midfielder Chase Franklin (5-9, Sr., 2-1-5, Kent, WA - Kentlake), who made 11 starts though just one after September, and midfielder Kramer Cross (5-10, Jr., Lacey, WA - Timberline), who played in 14 games.

Walker didn't stand pat, either. He added one JC transfer and 14 freshmen to his roster. The JC transfer is two-time NWAACC all-star Ricco Sanchez (5-10, Jr., Federal Way, WA) from Highline CC.

Simon Fraser is coming off a 20-4 campaign and third-year coach Alan Koch returns seven starters, including four first-team all-stars off that unit.

He did graduate NAIA National Player-of-the-Year Colin Streckmann, who ranked second on the team in scoring with eight goals and seven assists.

Koch, who has led the Clan to a 31-9-1 record in two seasons, does have available four of his top six scorers from last season including forward Alex Hanne (6-0, Jr., Calgary, AB), who netted 26 points on 10 goals and six assists.

Hanne earned first team NAIA All-Independent honors as did midfielder Josh Bennett (5-8, Jr., Hamilton, ON), defender Helge Neumann (6-2, So., Oslo, Norway) and goalkeeper Hide Ozawa (6-2, So., Victoria, BC).

Bennett scored four goals and had seven assists, while Neumann scored two goals. Ozawa had a .864 save percentage, allowing only 12 goals in 18 games and posting six shutouts.

Also back from SFU's starting lineup is midfielder Roman Doutkevitch (5-9, Jr., Regina, SK), who ranked third on the team in scoring with eight goals and three assists, midfielder Sang Hwang (5-9, Sr., Seoul, South Korea), who had two goals and six assists and defender Anthony DiNicolo (5-10, Jr., Maple Ridge, BC).

Seattle Pacific, which is the only current GNAC member to ever make the NCAA Division II national playoffs, returns a conference-best 20 lettermen including nine starters.

Seven of the returnees earned all-star honors a year ago led by midfielder Tyler Schultz (5-11, Jr., Scottsdale, AZ - Pinnacle) who ranked fifth in the conference in scoring with 17 points (8 goals, 1 assist) and was a first-team selection.

Defender Elliot Morton (6-4, Jr., Tacoma, WA - Bellarmine) was also a first team pick, while midfielder Drew Williams (5-7, Jr., Bend, OR), defender Jon Pearman (6-2, So., Glendale, AZ - Cactus) and goalkeeper Kaleb Kuehn (6-0, Sr., Marysville, WA - Marysville-Pilchuck) were second team selections.

Williams scored three goals and ranked second in the GNAC in assists with nine. Pearman had one goal in sharing GNAC Freshman-of-the-Year honors with Western Washington defender Chris Brundage, who transferred to the University of Washington.

Kuehn led the conference in GAA with a 1.10 average and recorded six shutouts, twice as many as any other goalkeeper in the GNAC.

Four other starters also return for third-year head coach Mark Collings (17-15-6, 2 years).

Back in the midfield are Christopher Morris (6-0, So., Mercer Island, WA) and Richie Evoy (5-11, So., Bend, OR) and returning in the backfield are defenders Caleb Nyone (6-1, So., Happy Valley, OR - Portland Christian) and Corey McGuire (6-3, So., Vancouver, WA - Columbia River).

Morris (2 goals, 1 assist) and Nyone were honorable mention all-star selections last season. Evoy scored nine points (4 goals, 1 assist), while McGuire had one assist.

Western Washington, which was the GNAC champion two years ago and finished second last season, returns five all-stars.

Among the returnees are WWU's top four scorers from last season including Kellan Brown (5-7, Jr., Tacoma, WA - Bellarmine), who had 10 goals and five assists to earn first team Daktronics West Region all-star honors.

Also back is midfielder Oscar Jimenez (5-8, Jr., Mount Vernon, WA), who had six goals and five assists, Gibson Bardsley (5-11, Sr., Fall City, WA - Mt. Si) who tallied five goals and also had an assist and midfielder Brendan Quilici (5-10, Sr., Battle Ground, WA - Columbia River), who had four goals and two assists.

Jimenez joined Brown on the GNAC first team all-star team last season, while Bardsley, who ranks 11th in GNAC history in scoring with 57 points, was a second team selection.

Midfielder Sean Connor (5-10, Sr., Mount Vernon, WA) was a honorable mention selection, contributing one assist.

Two other starters including forward Tyler Bjork (5-10, Jr., Kirkland, WA - Juanita), who had two goals and four assists and defender Thomas Kauffman (6-2, Sr., Evanston, IL), who had one goal, return for head coach Travis Connell (102-98-12, 11 years).

Also back is defender Nick Saletto (6-3, Sr., Bellingham, WA - Squalicum), who did not play last season after earning first team GNAC all-star honors in 2008.

Among WWU's other eight returning letter winners is goalkeeper Christian Warman (5-11, Sr., Sedro-Woolley, WA), who compiled a 1.52 goals against average in a backup role to starter Cameron Copps-Tilley last season.

Warman, who has made 14 career starts, played in just five games last season, but is expected to replace the graduated Copps-Tilley this season.

Montana State Billings and Northwest Nazarene are the only two teams without a returning first team all-conference player.

Both teams, do, however, return one second team selection and three players who each earned honorable mention.

The Yellowjackets will be without Charles, the GNAC's all-time leading scorer, for the first time in four seasons.

Charles completed his career scoring 69 goals and tallying 156 career points, including 62 goals and 140 points in MSUB's three seasons in the GNAC.

Back for coach Dan McNally (44-41-5, 5 years) is forward Chris Andre (6-0, Sr., Billings, MT), who led the GNAC in assists with 10 and was sixth in points per game averaging 0.89.

Earning honorable mention honors were forward Garion Holian (5-11, Jr., Missoula, MT - Hellgate), defender Kyle Moriarty (6-1, Sr., Bozeman, MT) and goalkeeper Matt Mitchell (5-11, Sr., Thornton, CO - Northglenn).

Holian scored six goals and had one assist, while Kyle Moriarty was credited with one assist. Mitchell ranked second in the conference with a 1.20 goals against average and posted three shutouts.

Also returning from last year's starting lineup is midfielder Tyler Moriarty (6-0, Sr., Bozeman, MT), who had three goals and an assist.

Among MSUB's newcomers is midfielder Peter Davies (6-0, Jr., London, England) who was a junior college all-star last season at Foothill College.

Also in this year's recruiting class is Tyler Currence (5-8, Fr., Billings, MT), who redshirted last season at Division I Creighton.

Northwest Nazarene's lone returning 2009 second team all-star is midfielder Renatto Brito (5-9, Sr., Boring, OR - North Idaho), who scored five goals and also had an assist last season.

Forward John Stump (5-10, Sr., Yakima, WA - WVC, 3 goals, 4 assists) and midfielder Salvador Sanchez (6-0, So., Ontario, OR, 2 goals, 2 assists) were honorable mention selections.

Coach Coe Michaelson (15-19-3, 2 years) does have five other 2009 starters available including midfielder Alex Mangeac (5-8, Jr., Nampa, ID - Skyview), who led the Crusaders in scoring with seven goals and four assists and ranked second overall in the conference in points per game (1.29).

Mangeac was a second team GNAC all-star in his freshman season in 2008 when he ranked third in the GNAC in scoring with 12 goals and four assists.

Also available is midfielder Benny Mangeac (5-11, Jr., Nampa, ID - Skyview, 2 goals, 1 assist), defenders Nate Hamm (6-1, Jr., Meridian, ID - Mountain View, 3 goals) and Jeremy Mangeac (5-10, Sr., Nampa, ID - Skyview) and goalkeeper Zander Engemann (6-2, Jr., Fort Collins, CO - Pouder).

Engemann split goalkeeping duties a year ago with Cesar Lira, starting eight games and posting a 2.48 goals against average. He had NNU's only two shutouts.

Among Northwest Nazarene's other nine returning letter winners are two who ranked in the top five in scoring on the Crusaders' 2008 team before sitting out the 2009 season.

Jose Oregon (5-9, So., Nampa, ID - Skyview) scored four goals and had two assists in earning honorable mention all-star honors that season while Chris Voth (6-1, So., Boise, ID - Timberline) scored six goals and had two assists in a part-time starting role.

Both will play defense this season as will Stephan Marshall (5-10, Jr., Pam Springs, CA), a transfer from Division I Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

Marshall played in six games in two seasons at Cal Poly.

TEAM CAPSULES

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS Yellowjackets

Head Coach: Dan McNally, Embry-Riddle '00 (44-41-5, 5 years) Assistants: Adam Spinelli 2009 Record: 11-5-2 Conference: 3-3-2, 4th Returning Letter Winners: 14 Returning Starters (5): Chris Andre (F, 6-0, Sr., 3-10-16, 2nd team GNAC); Garion Holian (F, 5-11, Jr., 6-1-13, HM GNAC); Kyle Moriarty (D, 0-1-1, HM GNAC); Matt Mitchell (GK, 5-11, Sr., 1.20 GAA, 3 shutouts, HM GNAC); Tyler Moriarty (M, 6-0, Sr., 3-1-7) Other Key Returnees: Ryan Covey (M, 6-3, Sr., 0-3-3); Blair Stevenson (M, 5-11, So., 1-0-2); James Henry (D, 6-2, Sr., 0-2-2); Cory Champney (D, 5-10, So., 0-0-0); Clifton Thomas (M, 5-6, So., 0-0-0) Transfers: Joshua Marocchi (M, 5-7, So., Perth, W. Australia - U. of Notre Dame Fremantle); Conner Moe (M, 6-1, So., Snohomish, WA - Bellevue CC); Tyler Currence (F, 5-8, Fr., Billings, MT - Creighton); Peter Davies (M, 6-0, Jr., London, England - Foothill); Thomas Sheets (F, 5-9 So., Everett, WA - Edmonds CC)

NORTHWEST NAZARENE CRUSADERS

Head Coach: Coe Michaelson, Albertson '02 (15-19-3, 2 year) Assistants: Dan Mangeac, Ryan Scott, Matt Reuschle 2009 Record: 5-11-1 Conference: 0-7-1, 5th Returning Letter Winners: 17 (2 from 2008) Returning Starters (8): Renatto Brito (M, 5-9, Sr., 5-1-11, 2nd team GNAC); John Stump (F, 5-10, Sr., 3-4-10, HM GNAC); Salvador Sanchez (M, 6-0, So., 2-2-6, HM GNAC); Alex Mangeac (M, 5-8, Jr., 7-4-18); Nate Hamm (D, 6-1, Jr., 3-0-6); Benny Mangeac (M, 5-11, Jr., 2-1-5); Jeremy Mangeac (D, 5-10, Sr., 0-0-0); Zander Engemann (GK, 6-2, Jr., 2.48 GAA, 2 shutouts) Other Key Returnees: Chris Voth (D, 6-1, So., 6-2-14 in 2008); Jose Oregon (D, 5-9, So., 4-2-10 in 2008, HM GNAC in 2008); Brock Ogami (M, 5-9, Sr., 1-1-3); Chris Arellano (F, 5-9, Sr., 1-0-2); Matt Larson (D, 5-11, Jr., 1-0-2); Weston Patrick (D, 5-11, So., 0-1-1); Mitch Rice (GK, 6-2, Jr., 1.56 GAA) Transfers: Stephan Marshall (D, 5-10, Jr., Palm Springs, CA - CSU San Luis Obispo)

SAINT MARTIN'S Saints

Head Coach: Rob Walker, Saint Martin's '83 (9-27-1, 2 years) Assistant: Dave Cross 2009 Record: 11-7 Conference: 6-2, 1st Returning Letter Winners: 19 Returning Starters (11): Xan Nixon (F, 6-1, Jr., 9-5-23, 1st team GNAC); Ruben Orozco (M, 5-11, Sr., 5-2-12, 1st team GNAC); Zac Lubin (GK, 6-6, Sr., 1.49 GAA, 2 shutouts, 1st team GNAC); Vlad Voin (M, 5-10, Sr., 3-8-14, 2nd team GNAC); Erik Orozco (M, 5-6, Sr., 0-0-0, 2nd team GNAC); Brandon Scott (D, 5-6, So., 1-4-6, HM GNAC); Tony Armitage (D, 5-10, Jr., 0-2-2, HM GNAC); James Schmid (D, 5-10, Jr., 0-0-0, HM GNAC); Conner Biggs (F, 6-2, So., 5-0-10); Austin Kelley (M, 6-2, Jr., 2-1-5; Victor Kelmel (M, 6-1, Sr., 2-1-5) Other Key Returnees: Chase Franklin (M, 5-9, Sr., 2-1-5); Gabe O'Hara (M, 6-0, Jr., 1-1-3); Kramer Cross (M, 5-10, Jr., 0-0-0) Transfers: Ricco Sanchez (M, 5-10, Jr., Federal Way, WA - Todd Beamer & Highline CC)

SEATTLE PACIFIC Falcons

Head Coach: Mark Collings, Seattle Pacific '99 (17-15-6, 2 years) Assistants: Mark Metzger, Nate Daligcon, James Ward, Dan Pingrey 2009 Record: 11-5-3 Conference: 4-3-1, 3rd Returning Letter Winners: 20 (1 from 2008) Returning Starters (9): Tyler Schultz (M, 5-11, Jr., 8-1-17, 1st team GNAC); Elliot Morton (D, 6-4, Jr., 3-1-7, 1st team GNAC); Drew Williams (M, 5-7, Jr., 3-9-15, 2nd team GNAC); Jon Pearman (D, 6-2, So., 1-0-2, 2nd team GNAC); Kaleb Kuehn (GK, 6-0, Sr., 1.10 GAA, 6 shutouts, 2nd team GNAC); Christopher Morris (M, 6-0, So., 2-1-5, HM GNAC); Caleb Nyone (D, 6-1, So., 0-0-0, HM GNAC); Richie Evoy (M, 5-11, So., 4-1-9); Corey McGuire (D, 6-3, So., 0-1-1) Other Key Returnees: Danny Brill (F, 5-10, Jr., 2-2-6); Griffin Fahling (D, 5-10, Jr., 2-2-6); Ryan Brand (F, 5-10, Jr., 2-0-4); Charlie Piehler (F, 5-9, So., 0-1-1); Andy Wolverton (M, 5-7, Sr., 0-2-2); Dillon Ballard (D, 5-9, Jr., 0-0-0); Brandon Kuenzi (D, 6-2, So., 0-0-0) Transfers: Liviu Bird (GK, 6-1, Jr., Fairbanks, AK - Highline CC)

SIMON FRASER Clan

Head Coach: Alan Koch, Simon Fraser '01 (31-9-1, 2 years, Overall, 53-25-1, 5 years) Assistants Raegyn Hall, Clint Schneider, Scott Spracklin 2009 Record: 20-4 Conference: None Returning Letter Winners: 13 Returning Starters (8): Alex Hanne (F, 6-0, Jr., 10-6-26, 1st team NAIA Independent); Josh Bennett (M, 5-8, Jr., 4-7-15, 1st team NAIA Independent); Helge Neumann (D, 6-2, So., 2-0-4, 1st team NAIA Independent); Hide Ozawa (GK, 6-2, So., 0.68, 6 shutouts, 1st team NAIA Independent); Roman Doutkevitch (M, 5-9, Jr., 8-3-19); Sang Hwang (M, 5-9, Sr., 2-6-10); Anthony DiNicolo (D, 5-10, Jr., 0-0-0) Other Key Returnees: Geoff Kosub (M, 6-0, So., 4-1-9); John Hodnett (F, 5-7, So., 4-1-9); Max Baessato (D, 6-0, So., 2-2-6); Liam Miller (F, 5-9, Sr., 0-3-3); Carson Gill (D, 6-0, Jr., 0-0-0); JD Blakley (GK, 5-10, Jr., 0.80, 2 shutouts) Transfers: Luke Chambers (D, 6-1, So., Derby, CA - Santa Barbara CC)

WESTERN WASHINGTON Vikings

Head Coach: Travis Connell, Seattle Pacific '96 (102-98-12, 11 years) Associate Head Coach: Greg Brisbon Assistants: Kyle Langowski (goalkeepers) 2009 Record: 8-11-1 Conference: 5-3, 2nd Returning Letter Winners: 17 (1 from 2008) Returning Starters (7): Kellan Brown (M, 5-7, Jr., 10-5-25, 1st team GNAC); Oscar Jimenez (M, 5-8, Jr., 6-5-17, 1st team GNAC); Gibson Bardsley (D, 5-11, Sr., 5-1-11, 2nd team GNAC); Sean Connor (M, 5-10, Sr., 0-1-1, HM GNAC); Tyler Bjork (F, 5-10, Jr., 2-4-8); Brendan Quilici (M, 5-10, Sr., 4-2-10); Thomas Kauffman (D, 6-2, Sr., 1-0-2) Other Key Returnees: Nick Saletto (D, 6-3, Sr., 0-0-0, 1st team in 2008); Matt Fishbaugher (M, 6-1, Sr., 2-1-5); Justin Moore (F, 5-9, So., 1-2-4); Darragh Simm (M, 6-0, Sr., 1-2-4); Kenny Parker (M, 5-10, Sr., 1-1-3); Sujinda Dangvar (M, 5-9, So., 1-0-2); Keith Ferris (M, 5-10, Jr., 0-0-0); Cris Geday (D, 6-0, Sr., 0-0-0); Christian Warman (GK, 5-11, Sr., 1.52 GAA) Transfers: None