Congratulations to the WSA Rapids on their win last night. They are going to the national tournament after winning the PASL premier Northwest Division title!

Here is the press release I received about the men's recruiting class.  Hopefully they found some young guys that can step up and fill roles right away with key losses this offseason!
 

BELLINGHAM, Wash. --- Western Washington University men’s soccer coach Travis Connell announced today that six high school seniors and one junior college transfer will play for the Vikings this fall.           The seven newcomers are midfielder/forward Austin Curtis from Bonney Lake High School, midfielder Leonard Kusina from Shattuck St. Mary’s Prep School in Fairbault, Minn., defender/midfielder Kurtis Pederson from Bellarmine Prep; midfielder Nate Popp from Mount Si High School, midfielder Sawyer Preston from Eastlake High School, goalkeeper Nico Terentjev from Mercer Island High School,and defender Jeremy Wentzel, a transfer from Shoreline CC who graduated from Edmonds-Woodway High School.
          Curtis, Kusina, Pederson, Popp, and Preston all signed national letters of intent and Terentjev and Wentzel have accepted a formal offers of admission.
          “We expect this group of talented young men to make an immediate impact on our program,” said WWU coach Travis Connell. “There is a little of everything in this class with goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders and a forward.  Next year our team will be bigger, stronger and faster, but we have been most impressed by this group’s eagerness to get started. They are excited to be Vikings.”
          Curtis was a first-team Tacoma News Tribune all-Area and South Puget Sound League 3A all-star as a junior at Bonney Lake. He helped the Panthers to a 16-2-1 record, a SPSL title and the first round of the state playoffs where they had a 12-game win streak snapped in a 3-2 loss on penalty kicks to Lakeside. That season Curtis had 15 goals and led the league with 15 assists.
          Kusina has played two seasons on a soccer academy squad and was captain of a U.S. Youth League U-16 squad in three years at Shattuck St. Mary’s Prep School. He also competed two years at West Valley High School in Fairbanks, Alaska, helping the Eclipse Phoenix Soccer Club to two state titles during his time there.
          Pederson has been a second-team Narrows League all-star in each of his first three years at Bellarmine Prep. As a junior, he helped the Lions to a second straight league title and a third consecutive Class 4A state tournament appearance, having 10 goals and 12 assists.
          Pederson has played two years for Seattle Sounders FC Academy and one year for Washington Premier FC Academy. He also competed for the Federal Way Storm club team, helping it to three straight state tournament appearances from 2007 to 2009.
          Popp received KingCo League 2A/3A all-star honorable mention as a junior at Mount Si, having four assists in leading the Wildcats to the district playoffs. He has been team captain the last six years for the Crossfire Premier club team.
          Preston, who is entering WWU this spring, plays for the Seattle Sounders FC Academy. A second-team KingCo League 4A all-star as a senior at Eastlake High School, he had five goals and eight assists in helping the Wolves to the Class 4A state championship.
          Terentjev is a team captain this season at Mercer Island High School and has played the last two years on the Crossfire Academy team.,
          Wentzel is transferring spring quarter from Shoreline CC where he started for the Dolphins. He was a first-team Western Conference South Division all-star for the second straight year as a senior at Edmonds-Woodway High School. He scored six goals that season in helping the Warriors to a fourth consecutive district playoff appearance.
          Wentzel played three years in the U.S. Development Academy system, two with Washington Premier and one with Seattle Sounders FC Academy.
          WWU finished its 2011 campaign 5-11-1.

Austin Curtis, Midfielder/Forward
Freshman, 5-11, 170, 18, 8/21/93, Bonney Lake, WA
HIGH SCHOOL: First-team Tacoma News Tribune All-Area and South Puget Sound League 3A all-star as junior at Bonney Lake High School … Helped Panthers to 16-2-1 record, SPSL title and first round of Class 3A state playoffs, losing 3-2 on penalty kicks to Lakeside that snapped 12-game win streak … Had 15 goals and led league with 15 assists … Named school’s Male Athlete of the Year … One letter … Also lettered one year in football … Transfer from Ponderosa High School in Parker, Colorado … Did not play as sophomore because of torn ACL … Honorable mention all-Continental League all-star as freshman … Played one year with Seattle Sounders FC Academy and another with Washington Premier FC Academy.
PERSONAL: Plans to major in kinesiology with emphasis on  pre-physical therapy.

 

Leonard Kusina, Midfielder
Freshman, 5-10, 155, 18, 1/23/94, Fairbault, MN
HIGH SCHOOL: Played two seasons on Soccer Academy squad and was captain of U.S. Youth League U-16 team during three-year stay at Shattuck St. Mary’s Prep School … Also competed two years at West Valley High School in Fairbanks, Alaska … Started and lettered two years … Helped Eclipse Phoenix Soccer Club to state championships in 2007 and 2008, being team captain one year.
PERSONAL: Plans to major in business … His brother, Leroy, played soccer at Parkland College IL.

 

Kurtis Pederson, Defender/Midfielder
Freshman, 6-1, 180, 18, 10/6/93, Puyallup, WA
HIGH SCHOOL: Second-team Narrows League all-star for third straight year as junior at Bellarmine Prep … Named team’s Most Improved award winner … Helped Lions to second straight league title and to first round of Class 4A state tournament for third time… Scored 10 goals and had 12 assists … Team MVP as junior and Most Improved as freshman … Started and lettered three years … Played two years for Seattle Sounders FC Academy and one year for Washington Premier FC Academy … Also played on Federal Way Storm club team, helping it to three straight state tournament appearances from 2007 to 2009, reaching quarterfinals in 2009.
PERSONAL: Plans to major in business and engineering … His mother, Katie, ran track at Central Washington University … His sister, Ciarra, plays soccer (goalkeeper) at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

Nate Popp, Midfielder
Freshman, 5-11, 155, 17, 8/24/95, Redmond, WA
HIGH SCHOOL: Honorable mention KingCo League 2A/3A all-star as junior at Mount Si High School … Had 4 assists in leading Wildcats to district playoffs … Started two years and lettered three … Also earned two letters in tennis … Team captain last six years for Crossfire Premier club team.
PERSONAL: Plans to major in marketing … His brother, Morgan, plays soccer at University of Hawaii-Hilo.

 

Sawyer Preston, Midfielder
Freshman, 6-1, 175, 18, 9/9/93, Sammamish, WA
COLLEGE: Did not attend college last year … Played for Seattle Sounders FC Academy Team.
HIGH SCHOOL: Second-team KingCo League 4A all-star as senior at Eastlake High School … Team captain … Had five goals and eight assists in helping Wolves win league and Class 4A state championships … Won U.S. Marine Corps Achievement Award for Distinguished Athlete of the Year … Second-team all-league as junior with five goals and five assists on squad that reached first round at state … Three-time school Scholar-Athlete award winner … Started and lettered three years … Team captain of Crossfire Premier U-16 team that won 2009-10 Washington State Cup championship and went to Mexico for regionals … Team captain of Crossfire Academy for five seasons and played on U18 Seattle Sounders Academy team.
PERSONAL: Plans to major in sports medicine or business administration … His father, Wayne, played football for Toronto Argonauts.

Nico Terentjev (pronounced  Tur-ren-chev), Goalkeeper
Freshman, 6-6, 210, 18, 3/11/94, Mercer Island, WA
HIGH SCHOOL:  Team captain as a senior at Mercer Island High School … Started and lettered three years … Played on Crossfire Academy team two years … Helped Crossfire Premier BU15A team to semifinals at Washington State Championship Cup in 2010 … In 2008, played on team that was semifinalist at US Club Regional.
PERSONAL: Plans to major in exercise science or business … His father, Andy, football at Bowdoin College MA … His mother, Laury, played soccer, volleyball and basketball at Bates College MA.

 

Jeremy Wentzel, Defender
Sophomore, 5-5, 145, 19, 8/31/92, Edmonds, WA
COLLEGE: Transfer from Shoreline Community College … Started and lettered for Dolphins.
HIGH SCHOOL:  First-team Western Conference South Division all-star for second straight year as senior at Edmonds-Woodway High School … Team captain and team MVP … Scored six goals in helping Warriors to fourth consecutive district playoff appearances … Played in WesCo North vs. South All-Star game as junior and senior … All-league honorable mention as freshman … Started and lettered four years … Played three years in US Soccer Development Academy system, two with Washington Premier Academy and one with Sounders Academy. 
PERSONAL: Plans to major ineither philosophy and English.

Here is the press release I got from WWU about their new recruits for next year.  Looks like this team is going to get a lot better!

BELLINGHAM, Wash. --- Western Washington University women’s soccer coach Travis Connell announced today that five talented high school seniors will play for the Vikings this fall. They are forward Jessica Bertucci from Sehome High School, forward/midfielder Stephanie Hamilton, who resides in Orting and attends Bellarmine Prep, defender Chelsea Jackson from Fraser Heights Secondary in Surrey, B.C., forward/midfielder Catherine Miles from Anacortes High School and midfielder Delanee Nilles from North Kitsap High School in Poulsbo.           Bertucci, Jackson, Miles and Nilles all signed national letters of intent and Hamilton has accepted a formal offer of admission.
          “The character and drive of these young women will fit in perfectly with our current team dynamic,” said Connell. “This group will strengthen our already stellar team chemistry. We look forward to getting them up to Bellingham and to start working with all of them. I expect them to make an immediate impact on our program.”
          Bertucci was a first-team Class 2A all-state choice for the second straight year and a first-team Northwest Conference all-star for the fourth consecutive season as a senior at Sehome. She scored 17 goals and tied for the league high with 12 assists in helping the Mariners to a 19-2-0 record, the Northwest District tournament title and the state quarterfinals.
          As a junior, Bertucci was the MVP of the all-state team and the Bellingham Herald Whatcom County Player of the Year on a 22-1-1 team that won the state championship. She was a second-team all-state pick as a sophomore on a squad that placed third at state.
                “Jessica is the type of player that will catch your eye just by her presence on the field,” Connell said. “She’s very athletic and one of the most dynamic attacking players off the dribble that I have ever seen.”
          Hamilton was a first-team Class 4A all-state choice as a senior at Bellarmine Prep and the Tacoma News Tribune All-Area Player of the Year. She was the Narrows League MVP for the second consecutive season and a first-team all-league pick for the fourth time.
          Twice the Tacoma Athletic Commission Student-Athlete of the Year, Hamilton led the Lions to a 17-2-1 record and the state final with 21 goals and 12 assists.
                “We have been looking for a creative attacking player,” said Connell. “Stephanie is going to be an excellent creative playmaker. She can score goals and create them for others.”
          Jackson played on the British Columbia U-16 provincial team the placed fourth at the 2010 nationals held in Newfoundland.
          “Chelsea is a physical presence on the field,” Connell said. “Her heart and determination combined with her speed and power make her a force on defense.
          Miles was a first-team Skagit Valley Herald all-Area choice for the fourth straight year as a senior at Anacortes. She scored 17 goals on a squad that reached the district playoffs for the second straight year.
          As a junior, Miles was first-team Class 2A all-State and MVP of the SVH all-Area team, leading the Northwest Conference with 26 goals.
                “Catherine is an excellent athlete and she can play almost anywhere on the field,” said Connell. “Her versatility will enable us to do so many different things on the field.”
          Nilles was the Olympic League co-MVP for the second straight year and a first-team all-league pick for the fourth time as a senior at North Kitsap. She had career totals of 47 goals and 40 assists.
          Nilles was a first-team all-state selection as a junior, helping the Seahawks to the first of two straight state tournament appearances.
                “Delanee has played at a very high level,” Connell said. “She is smart, composed on the ball and she makes the other players around her better. She can defend and attack and is dangerous on restarts.”
          WWU finished its 2011 campaign 10-5-3 overall and tied for second in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference at 9-4-1. The Vikings were unbeaten in their last five games (4-0-1), not allowing a goal during that stretch.

Jessica Bertucci, Forward
Freshman, 5-8, 18, 2/12/94, Bellingham, WA
HIGH SCHOOL: First-team Class 2A all-state choice for second straight year and first-team Northwest Conference all-star for fourth consecutive season as senior at Sehome High School … Led Mariners to 19-2-0 record, Northwest District tournament title and state quarterfinals … Tied for team high with 17 goals and tied for league best with 12 assists … Team captain … MVP of all-state team and Bellingham Herald Whatcom County Player of the Year as junior … Played on state championship team that finished 22-1-1 … Second-team all-state as sophomore, helping team place third at state … Helped squad to first round at state as freshman … Started and lettered four years … Also earned three letters in basketball.
PERSONAL: Plans to major in either pre-physical therapy or pre-dentistry.

Stephanie Hamilton, Forward/Midfielder
Freshman, 5-2, 18, 8/12/94, Orting, WA
HIGH SCHOOL: First-team Class 4A all-state pick as senior at Bellarmine Prep …Tacoma News Tribune All-Area Player of the Year and All-City selection … Narrows League MVP for second consecutive season and first-team Narrows League all-star for fourth straight year … Twice Tacoma Athletic Commission Student-Athlete of the Year … Led Lions to 17-2-1 record, league title and final of Class 4A state playoffs … Had 21 goals and had 12 assists … Team captain, Team MVP for second time and Offensive MVP for fourth time … Honorable mention all-state as junior … Helped squad to 17-1-2 record, league championship, and state quarterfinals … Sophomore … Also played on state quarterfinal teams as sophomore and freshman … Started and lettered four years … Also earned two letters in track.
PERSONAL: Plans to major in pre-med or sports psychology.

Chelsea Jackson, Defender
Freshman, 5-9, 18, 1/9/94, Surrey, BC
HIGH SCHOOL: Played on British Columbia U-16 provincial team that placed fourth at 2010 nationals held in Newfoundland … Scored 4 goals asjunior for Firehawks at Fraser Heights Secondary … Three-year letter winner … Also participated in club volleyball and competitive hip-hop dancing.
PERSONAL: Horseback rider since age of seven … Her father, Ernest, was Canadian middleweight kick-boxing champion … Her brother, Coulton, played on U-17 and U-20 national soccer teams and was member of Vancouver Whitecaps reserve team.

Catherine Miles, Forward/Midfielder
Freshman, 5-7, 18, 7/12/94, Anacortes, WA
HIGH SCHOOL: First-team Skagit Valley Herald all-Area choice for fourth straight year and first-team all-Northwest Conference for second consecutive season as senior at Anacortes High School … Team captain for Seahawks and voted MVP for third time … Scored 17 goals on 13-6-0 squad that reached district playoffs for second straight year … First-team Class 2A all-State and MVP of SVH all-Area team as junior … Led conference in scoring with 26 goals … WIAA/Seattle Times Class 2A state Athlete of the Week … Second-team all-league as sophomore and honorable mention as freshman … Started and lettered four years … Also earned three letters in track … As junior at state meet, placed eighth in both long jump and 300-meter hurdles and ninth in high jump … As sophomore, finished fourth in 300 hurdles at state.
PERSONAL: Plans to major in chemistry or biology.

Delanee Nilles (pronounced Nil-les), Midfielder  
Freshman, 5-10, 18, 2/4/94, Poulsbo, WA
HIGH SCHOOL: Olympic League co-MVP for second straight year and first-team all-league pick for fourth consecutive season as senior at North Kitsap High School … Had career totals of 47 goals and 40 assists … As senior, helped Vikings to second consecutive appearance at Class 2A state tournament … Team captain, having 12 goals and 6 assists on 10-3-5 squad … First-team all-state selection as junior … Played on12-2-3 squad that won league championship, finishing with 12 goals and 10 assists … As sophomore, had 9 goals and 14 assists on 12-3-2 team … As freshman, had 14 goals and 10 assists on 12-3-2 team that reached first round of Class 3A state tournament …. Started and lettered four years … Also earned two letters in track and one in basketball … Played club soccer for Issaquah’s Eastside FC … Finalist for national U17 team.
PERSONAL: Plans to major in elementary education … Began playing soccer at five years of age … Her father, John, played basketball at Regis University CO and her mother, Kay, played basketball at North Idaho College … Her sister, Lakiesha, competes in track at Northwest Nazarene University and her brother, Berkley, plays basketball at Everett CC.

Are you like me? Do you love sports but hate the fans sometimes? I don’t hate all fans (considering I am one) but there are those select few that do things that just rub me the wrong way. 

            I detest the wave.  If I am watching a sporting event, my goal is not to stand up with the people seated directly in front of me and behind me.  I didn’t pay for a ticket to do that; I want to watch the game.  Sticking with the ocean theme, beach balls are another annoying sporting event staple.  I paid money to watch someone else play, not you.

            I am not a huge fan of baseball, but I understand how much “tradition” plays a role in the sport. But do we really have to sing “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” at every seventh inning stretch?  If we just count pro games, that song is sung 2,430 times a season.  I don’t think Jingle Bells even gets sung that many times a year. 

            I think throwing squid on the ice during hockey games is ridiculous.  The tradition started in the 50s when teams used to have to win eight post-season games to win the Stanley Cup (when there were only six teams in the National Hockey League), and fans thought by throwing a squid, which has eight arms, they were giving the team good luck.  Now we have ice rinks littered with squid.

            What is with all of the out-of-shape people deciding to go shirtless and paint their bodies more and more.  And it is even better when people dress up to try and scare people, like Oakland Raiders fans.  Seriously, I never ever want to watch a Raiders game in Oakland and it is all because of their fans.  They dress up with spikes on their shoulders, painted faces and various other props all in support of their team.  I am sure there are plenty of Raiders fans that don’t, but they’re not shown on TV.  Washington Redskin fans dress up as pigs in dresses.  They decided this would be an excellent way to support their team after a coach in the 80s said the offensive lineman were ‘a bunch of hogs.’  Obviously wearing pig snouts is the best way to say “Go team go!”  I can guarantee that you will never see me dress up like a pig in a dress at a Redskins game (mostly because I probably won’t ever go to a Redskins game).

            If you have ever seen golf on TV, then guaranteed you have heard the ‘get in the hole!’ call from someone in the crowd.  Now golf is always thought of as a sport where you don’t yell but guaranteed you will hear someone at every tournament yell this.  Come on, it’s so overdone.  I love the classic cheers, chants and songs for teams.  I love player specific ones, too (especially the ones that are anti-player and make fun of them, but not over the line).  But ‘get in the hole’ is something I hope doesn’t become a classic.

            I think fans growing playoff beards should stop, especially if they honestly think growing facial hair is going to help a team play better.  People who yell during free throws are just as bad in my opinion. Do people honestly think that it was because they yelled during a free throw that the player missed? Even professionals don’t make every single free throw.

            It is common for fans to rush the field or court after a game.  Usually it’s for a major game, like if a team wins a championship or beats the rival team.  It can be a really cool tradition (it can be dangerous, to) when fans and players can celebrate together.  But more and more often we see this happening.  It will happen now after a team just simply wins a game.  I don’t think that that is really a time to celebrate by rushing the floor.  I wish fans would act as though they have been there, and what I mean by act like you have been there is this, you don’t see LA Laker fans rushing the court.  You won’t see fans of Louisiana State University football rush the field after they destroy the Louisiana Monroe War Hawks. Their teams win and they act appropriately. Winning a regular season game over an ordinary team is no cause to rush the court or field.

            My last major gripe is about the not naked streaker.  First of all, don’t be a streaker.  It takes away time from the game and it just makes everyone uncomfortable and you only embarrass yourself.  But worse then being a streaker, is one who technically isn’t and runs onto the field fully dressed.

            There are some pretty great traditions too.  I think Chicago Cubs fans throwing a homerun hit by the other team back is pretty cool.  I think (as much as I hate to admit it) that when the Portland Timbers score a goal, Timber Jim was pretty cool (it is now Joey).  You would commonly see Timber Jim hanging from rafters with chainsaw in hand, a little dangerous maybe, but it was started by a fan and a cool tradition that has been going on for decades.  I love when teams get a nickname given to them by the fans, like the Red Devils for Manchester United. 

            I know that I won’t ever be able to go to a game without being annoyed by something (believe me, this is a short list) but I would like to think that I could.  Either that or I need someone to explain to me the beauty in wearing a piece of cheese on your head, or banging on cowbells or any of these other ‘traditions.’

Here is the press release sent to me from WWU sports.  Pretty awesome news from a GNAC mens soccer perspective, more competition is only good for the conference.

U-Mary, Sioux Falls To Join GNAC For Soccer
The University of Mary, which is located in Bismarck, N.D., and the University of Sioux Falls of Sioux Falls, S.D., have agreed to become affiliate members of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference in men's soccer, GNAC Commissioner Dave Haglund announced Thursday.

The two NCAA Division II universities will begin play in the GNAC and the NCAA West Region beginning this fall.

They'll join Montana State University Billings, Northwest NazareneUniversity (Idaho), Saint Martin's University (Wash.), Seattle PacificUniversity (Wash.), Simon Fraser University (B.C.) and WesternWashington University bringing membership in the GNAC men's soccer conference to eight.

The eight schools will each play a 14-game home-and-home schedule. U-Mary and Sioux Falls will be immediately eligible for the conference championship and all conference awards.

“We are extremely excited to welcome the University of Mary and theUniversity of Sioux Falls as affiliate members beginning this fall,” Haglund said. “They will greatly enhance our conference offering in men's soccer while providing important additional in-region NCAA Division II contests for all eight members.” 

U-Mary and Sioux Falls are currently members of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, which does not sponsor men's soccer. All its other teams will continue to compete in the Northern Sun.

“The University of Mary is thrilled to join the Great Northwest Athletic Conference and be a part of such a nationally-respected organization,” U-Mary athletic director Roger Thomas said.

“When looking for a home for our men's soccer team, we hoped to find a conference that shared our athletic and academic philosophies and played soccer at a very high level. We feel the GNAC is a perfect fit for the Marauders and will help us improve the visibility and provide stability for our program.”

“We are extremely excited to be a member of the GNAC,” said USF Athletic Director William Sanchez. “The GNAC is one of the premier NCAA DII conferences in the nation and has built a strong reputation in collegiate soccer. This is a big day for our university and our men's soccer program, as we complete our transition into the NCAA DII.”

U-Mary and Sioux Falls will join a conference that has accounted for nine men's soccer national championships from current or former members.

Simon Fraser was a perennial NAIA national powerhouse winning NAIA national titles in 1976, 1982 and 1983 before joining the GNAC in 2010 and becoming the first Canadian member of the NCAA.

This past year the Clan posted an 18-0-1 record and was the No. 1 ranked NCAA Division II team in the nation in the final regular-season poll though it was ineligible for the playoffs as a provisional NCAA member.

Seattle Pacific, which hosted the NCAA West Regional playoffs last season as the No. 1 seed, has won five NCAA Division II national titles, including 1978, 1983, 1985, 1986 and 1993.

Former GNAC member Seattle University, which now competes at the Division I level, was the 2004 NCAA Division II national champion.

Both U-Mary under fifth-year head coach Dave Cook and Sioux Fallsunder second-year head coach Paul Bennett have previously competed against the GNAC.

Last year U-Mary played games against three of the GNAC institutions including Montana State Billings, Northwest Nazarene and Seattle Pacific, while Sioux Falls played four GNAC schools - Montana State Billings, Northwest Nazarene, Seattle Pacific and Simon Fraser.