Thursday, October 8, 2015

SOLE POSSESION: Northwest Nazarene shut out two more opponents this week, including the offensive juggernaut in Montana State Billings. The Crusaders allowed just two shots on goal between the two matches and are now ranked No. 12 in the NSCAA Division II Top-25 and have sole possession of first place in the GNAC.

CLAN STRIKE: Simon Fraser also earned two shutouts, defeating Saint Martin’s 4-0 and Seattle Pacific 1-0. The Clan handed Seattle Pacific its first loss of the season. Mamadi Camara scored three goals, including both game-winners for the Clan.

JAMMED UP: Along with Simon Fraser, Seattle Pacific, Montana State Billings and Concordia are all tied for second place in the conference with eight points and a 2-1-2 record. With head-to-head matchups on the schedule, along with matches against first-place Northwest Nazarene, the standings could be shuffled following the weekend.

FIRST W: Saint Martin’s defeated Western Washington for its first conference win of the season. The Saints, Vikings and Mary Marauders look to jump back into the race with wins this week.

THIS WEEK'S GNAC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

OFFENSIVE
Mamadi Camara, Simon Fraser
M • 6-3 • 180, Freshman • Montreal, Que.

Camara scored three goals in two matches and netted the game-winner in the 15th minute that gave the Clan a 1-0 victory over No. 7 Seattle Pacific. He scored two goals in a 4-0 shutout of Saint Martin’s on Thursday where he eluded most of the Saints’ defense on his way to the goal. Also nominated: Julio Castillo (Northwest Nazarene), Matt Paine (Concordia), Ricardo Palomino (Montana State Billings).

DEFENSIVE
Brandon Watson, Simon Fraser
GK • 6-1 • 175, Junior • Victoria, B.C.

Watson recorded two shutouts as the Clan improved to 2-1-2 in GNAC play. He recorded two shutouts on Thursday against Saint Martin’s and then added six saves on eight shots in the 1-0 shutout of No. 7 Seattle Pacific. Also nominated: Luke Broz (Northwest Nazarene), Cameron Lee (Montana State Billings).

AROUND THE GNAC

CONCORDIA

• The Cavaliers are one of four teams locked into a second place tie in the GNAC with eight points and a 2-1-2 conference record.

• Concordia earned a 1-0-1 record over the week, keeping up with the high-powered offense in Montana State Billings with a 3-3 tie, and defeating Mary 2-0.

• Against Montana State Billings, both teams limited scoring chances with Concordia holding a shots on goal lead of 7-4. Tyler Hoiem scored the Cavaliers’ first goal in the 18th minute to tie that match at 1 apiece. Jordan Potts scored to open the second half to take a 2-1 lead. After two MSUB goals, Matt Paine tied it back up with an 82nd minute goal. Paine also had an assist.

• Paine continued his strong week with both goals against Mary. With the score tied entering the second half, Paine netted 51st minute and 58th minute goals. Goalkeeper Arne Niermann made three saves in the shutout.

• The Cavaliers are second in the GNAC in goals (17) this season. They also rank third in shots (129), points (47) and assists (13).

• Paine ranks first in the conference in shots (33) and second in points (15), goals (5) and assists (5). Ben Culpan is tied for fifth in points per game (1.00) and sixth in goals (3).

• The Cavaliers are next on the road at Western Washington on Thursday and at Simon Fraser on Saturday. They enter the week with a 4-2-2 overall record.

MARY

• The Marauders lost both matches against tough opponents. They were shut out by Northwest Nazarene and Concordia, both by 2-0 margins.

• In both matches, the Marauders held their opponents scoreless through the first half, but allowed two second-half goals. Goalkeeper Rhodin Ludvig made 12 saves combined over the week.

• The Marauders rank sixth in the GNAC in shots (111).They are also third in total saves (42).

• Christoffer Nogueira is second in the conference in shots (31) and shots per game (3.88). James Liddiard leads the team with three goals. Ludvig leads the conference in saves per match (5.00) and is third in total saves (30).

• The Maruaders fell to 1-4-0 in conference and 2-6-1 overall. They host Saint Martin’s on Thursday and Seattle Pacific on Saturday.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS

• The Yellowjackets had their toughest week of the season, drawing 3-3 at Concordia and getting shut out for the first time, 1-0, by No. 19-ranked Northwest Nazarene.

• Montana State Billings played a back-and-forth match with Concordia on Thursday. Ricardo Palomino continued his torrid season, scoring the first two goals for MSUB. Niklas Schregel gave the Yellowjackets a 3-2 lead in the 66th minute. Thiago Novis assisted on both of Palomino’s goals.

• The Northwest Nazarene defense stymied the GNAC’s top offensive team in MSUB. The Yellowjackets took four shots, but could not put one on net. Goalkeeper Tom Lohmann made five saves in the loss to keep the match within one goal.

• The Yellowjackets lead the GNAC in points (60), goals (21) and assists (18). Nationally, they are ranked 27th in scoring offense, 36th in total goals and 38th in total points.

• Palomino is first in the GNAC in points (24) and goals (11), doubling that of the next highest goal scorer in the conference. He is also first in game-winning goals (3). Julian Toenges is third in the conference in points per game (1.22) and tied for second in assists (5).

• The Yellowjackets host No. 18-ranked Seattle Pacific on Thursday and Saint Martin’s on Saturday. They are tied for second in the GNAC with eight points and a 2-1-2 conference record.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE

• The Crusaders continued to roll with two shut out wins over Mary and Montana State Billings. They have won three in a row and improved their conference-best record to 4-0-1 and 8-1-1 overall. They have not lost in six straight matches.

• The Northwest Nazarene defense shut down its opponents this week, allowing a combined two shots on goal, only one of which goalkeeper Ryan Foo needed to save. They moved up from No.19 to No. 12 in the NSCAA Top-25 Poll. It is the highest ranking all-time for NNU men’s soccer.

• Against Mary, the Crusaders allowed both their shots for the week. Julio Castillo scored a 50th minute goal to open the scoring and assisted on Erik Anderson’s 68th minute goal.

• The Crusaders were undaunted by the top-ranked offense in the GNAC in Montana State Billings, shutting them out 1-0. Not only did they not allow a goal, but the Crusader defense allowed 0 shots on goalkeeper Ryan Foo. Defender Luke Broz scored the lone goal in the 19th minute, assisted by Castillo.

• Northwest Nazarene’s defense has been nearly unbeatable, allowing one goal in five conference matches. They rank second in the GNAC in goals against average (0.39), goals allowed (4) and tied for first in shutouts (6). The Crusaders are also first in shots (159), second in points (48) and third in goals (15).

• Castillo ranks third in the conference in points (12) and first in assists (8). Alex Mitrovic and Abraham Placito are third in the GNAC in goals (4). Placito is tied for first with three game-winning goals.

• The Crusaders take their five-point lead in the GNAC at second-place Simon Fraser on Thursday and at Western Washington on Saturday.

SAINT MARTIN’S

• The Saints earned a 1-1-0 record over the week and their first conference win of the season. They fell 4-0 to Simon Fraser on Thursday, but defeated Western Washington 2-1 on Saturday.

• Against Simon Fraser, the Saint’s struggled to put together many offensive opportunities, putting two shots on goal. Goalkeeper Nick Rosato made five saves.

• The Saints responded with a 2-1 comeback victory over Western Washington. After allowing a first-half goal, Saint Martin’s netted two goals within six minutes to upset Western Washington.

• Kyle Witzel got the Saints on the board in the 62nd minute and Austin Yon scored the game-winner in the 67th minute. The Saints scored both goals on their only two shots on net. They held the Vikings to four total shots on net.

• The Saints lead the conference in saves (47). They rank 41st in the nation in saves per game (5.22). Witzel leads the team in points (6) and goals (3). Rosato is second in the GNAC in saves (43), ranking 38th in the nation.

• The Saints will be on the road at Mary on Thursday and at Montana State Billings on Saturday. They enter the week 1-4-0 in conference and 2-6-1 overall.

SEATTLE PACIFIC

• After beginning the season with six straight shutouts, the Falcons have allowed goals now in three-straight matches. They defeated Western Washington 2-1 on Thursday, but fell to Simon Fraser 1-0 for their first loss of the season on Saturday.

• The Falcons allowed an early seventh minute goal to Western Washington and trailed 1-0 at halftime. They responded with two goals in the second half. Ian Adams tied it with a 65th minute goal and Mori Tsuchiya netted the game-winner in the 81st minute. Cody Lang made two saves to keep the Falcons undefeated to that point.

• Against Simon Fraser, the Falcons led in shots on goal 5-4, but could not find the twine as they fell 1-0. Lang made four more saves, but allowed a 15th-minute goal in the loss. It was just the third goal allowed all season by Lang and the Falcon defense.

• The Falcons are one of four teams tied in second place in the GNAC with eight points and a 2-1-2 record.

• Seattle Pacific still leads the conference in goals allowed (3), goals against average (0.32) and shutouts (6). In the nation, they are second in goals against average and fifth in save percentage (.893) and shutout percentage (.67).

• Lang leads the GNAC individually in goals against average (0.32), save percentage (.893) and shutouts (6). Adams leads the team with six points and is tied with teammate Danny Olivas with two goals.

• The Falcons dropped from No. 7 to No. 18 in the NSCAA Division II Top-25. They will be on the road at Montana State Billings on Thursday and at Mary on Saturday.

SIMON FRASER

• The Clan had one of its strongest weeks of the year, earning two shutouts. They defeated Saint Martin’s 4-0 on Thursday and previously No. 7-ranked Seattle Pacific 1-0 on Saturday

• Mamadi Camara helped lead his team to both victories. He scored the first two goals against Saint Martin’s, including a highlight-reel goal in which he went through and around several Saint defenders Camara also scored the lone goal against Seattle Pacific in the 15th minute earning him GNAC Offensive Player of the Week.

• Kyle Jones added a goal and an assist against Saint Martin’s. The defense held the Saints to two shots on goal, both of which goalkeeper Brandon Watson

• Watson earned Defensive Player of the Week honors, with six saves against the Falcons. The Clan handed Seattle Pacific its first loss of the year in a 1-0 shutout.

• The Clan is ranked second in the conference in shots (142) this season. Simon Fraser is also third in goals per game (1.62) and goals allowed (8).

• Adam Jones is second in the GNAC in shots (31) individually. Camara is tied for fifth in points (8) and third in goals (3). Watson is third in goals against average (0.97).

• The Clan is tied for second in the GNAC with 8 points and a 2-1-2 record. They are 3-2-3 overall. They look to continue their winning streak against No. 12-ranked Northwest Nazarene on Thursday and Concordia on Saturday.

WESTERN WASHINGTON

• The Vikings fell in two matches this week at home 2-1 against both No. 7-ranked Seattle Pacific and Saint Martin’s.

• Against Seattle Pacific, the Vikings took a quick 1-0 lead on a seventh minute goal by Conner Pichette, assisted by Adam Talley and Kurtis Pederson. The Vikings held the lead through the 64th minute, but gave up two late goals in the loss. Goalkeeper Tyler Visten made six saves.

• The Vikings again took an early lead against Saint Martin’s, getting a goal from Talley in the 10th minute. They held the lead again at halftime, but gave up two second-half goals to fall 2-1. The Vikings held the Saints to two shots on goal, but both found their way to the back of the net.

• Western Washington ranks fifth in the conference in goals (11) and fourth in assists (12). The Vikings are also fourth in goals allowed (11) and are second in total saves (44).

• Visten leads the conference with 44 saves, ranking him 33rd in the nation. He is also third in the GNAC in save percentage (.800) and fourth in goals against average (1.15). Jeremy Wentzel is fourth in the conference in assists (4).

• The Vikings look to get back into the win column with home matches against Concordia and No. 12-ranke Northwest Nazarene. They are 1-3-1 in conference and 3-4-2 overall