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Grand Canyon tabbed as favorite for PacWest title
NDNU's Montes selected Preseason Player of Year
PHOENIX, AZ - Grand Canyon has been selected to capture the Pacific West Conference Men's Soccer Championship and Notre Dame de Namur sophomore forward Cristobal Montes (Fremont, CA/John F. Kennedy) has been picked to repeat as the conference Player of the Year as the PacWest revs up for its 2009 men's soccer campaign.
The PacWest Media Relations Office in Phoenix, AZ, announced the 2009 Preseason All-Conference Men's Soccer Team and predicted order of finish on Wednesday, Aug. 19. The squad and predicted order of finish was determined by a vote of the nine PacWest head men's soccer coaches.
The Antelopes finished first despite receiving less first-place votes than runner up Hawai‘i Pacific. The Sea Warriors were given four first-place selections compared to three for Grand Canyon. NDNU, the reigning champion, was slated to finish third thanks to a pair of first-place nods.
Hawai‘i Hilo, Dixie State and BYU-Hawaii placed fourth through sixth, respectively, while Dominican (CA) and Academy of Art - the two newest programs in the PacWest - were picked to wind up seventh and eighth, respectively. Chaminade rounded out the order of finish.
The 2008 PacWest Player and Newcomer of the Year, Montes was the 2009 PacWest Preseason Player of the Year and a Preseason All-Conference forward. In 21 games last season, Montes totaled 33 points on 14 goals and five assists. He was responsible for seven game-winners, scored on a penalty kick, and was named All-PacWest First Team as a rookie.
Montes was one of three preseason all-conference picks for the Argos. Junior middie Nathan Carlson (Henderson, NV/Coronado) earned the honor after posting eight points on two goals and four assists in 21 games, while senior defender Oswaldo Hernandez (Shafter, CA/Liberty), an All-PacWest First Team member in 2008, contributed four points on two goals in 19 games.
In 2008, NDNU won the PacWest title and earned a berth in the NCAA Division II National Championship Tournament.
Dixie State also boasted three preseason all-conference picks - a forward, a middie and a defender. Sophomore forward Kevin Young (Salt Lake City, UT/Kearns) saw action in 16 games, including 11 starts, totaling 10 points on four goals and two assists. He also recorded one game-winning goal.
Sophomore midfielder Zac Hales (St. George, UT/Dixie) played in 17 games with 13 starts for Dixie State. He posted nine points on four goals and one assist while recording a pair of game-winners. Hales was selected All-PacWest Second Team in 2008.
Sophomore back Zhaque Budge (Bountiful, UT/Bountiful) started 15 of the 17 games in which he played last season and is expected to lead a solid Dixie State defense this year.
Hawai‘i Pacific boasted a pair of preseason selections in
sophomore forward Chance Bukoski (Kapaa,
HI/Kapaa) and junior midfielder Linus
Ekden (Lidkping,Sweden/De Le Gardie School - left
photo).
Edken started 17 games for the Sea Warriors last season, finishing the year with 12 points on four goals and four assists. He was an All-PacWest First Team selection in 2008 and an Honorable Mention in 2007.
Bukoski started 18 games and averaged a point per outing. He finished the year with 18 points on seven goals and four assists to go along with his two game-winning scores. Bukoski was named All-PacWest First Team in 2008.
Penguin junior forward Shaine Huiberts (San Juan Capistrano, CA/Dana Hills) became the first men's athlete from Dominican (CA) to earn PacWest Preseason All-Conference accolades. In 16 games last year, Huiberts tallied eight goals and one assist to finish the season with 17 points and one game-winner.
BYU-Hawaii senior midfielder Adam Maciejewski
(Hamburg, Germany - right photo) was the lone
Seasider represented on the squad. In 15 games and 14 starts last
year, Maciejewski recorded six goals and one assist for 13 points
while also rocketing home a pair of game-winning goals. The
Preseason All-Conference selection was a First Team All-PacWest
pick in 2008 and a Second Team choice in 2007.
Despite being the preseason favorite this year, Grand Canyon listed just one player on the preseason squad - sophomore defender Nick Sykes (Boise, ID/Mountain View). In 18 for the Antelopes, Sykes scored 14 points on six goals and two assists to go along with his two game-winning tallies. He was an All-PacWest Honorable Mention in 2008.
Hawai‘i Hilo claimed the goalkeeper slot on the preseason team thanks to senior netminder Ivan Mercado (Paramount, CA/Century). The veteran goalie was an All-PacWest Second Team selection in 2008 after starting 15 of 18 games and seeing 1295:32 minutes of action.
Mercado recorded 15 saves in developing his 1.04 goals against average and 8-4-2 overall record. He had 56 saves during the year while posting six shutouts.
Predicted order of Finish (1st Place Votes)
- Grand Canyon (3)
- Hawai‘i Pacific (4)
- NDNU (2)
- Hawai‘i Hilo
- Dixie State
- BYU-Hawaii
- Dominican (CA)
- Academy of Art
- Chaminade
