Six Named to GNAC Men’s Soccer All-League Team; Charles and Hoskins Named First Team

BILLINGS, Mont. – Senior Justin Hoskins and junior Sam Charles led six Yellowjackets who were named to the 2008 Great Northwest Athletic Conference All-League Team, the conference office announced Wednesday.  Hoskins and Charles were named to the first team, while sophomores Matt Mitchell and Scott Dixon, along with junior Tom Milroy were named to the second team and senior Jurell Linford was an honorable mention selection.

Matt Pele of league champion, Western Washington, was named Player of the Year, while his head coach, Travis Connell, was named Coach of the Year.  Connell also earned Coach of the Year honors for the WWU women’s soccer team as well.  Ruben Orozco of Saint Martin’s was tabbed Newcomer of the Year, while Alex Mangeac of Northwest Nazarene was selected by league coaches as Freshman of the Year, to round out the specialty awards.  Charles earned Player of the Year honors as a sophomore last season.

Hoskins, a midfielder from Billings, finished third on the team in scoring with eight points.  His four goals also were good for third on the team.  He was one of two Yellowjackets to play and start in all 18 games. 

Charles, a forward from Chiswell, England, led the league and the team with 19 goals and six assists for 44 points.  His 19 goals tied the school record he set last year.  This season, Charles ranked sixth nationally in goals per game and seventh in scoring.  He scored a goal in all but four games this season and had at least one point in all but three games.  Charles tied the GNAC record with his third hat trick of his career against Mary (Sept. 8).  Charles leads the school’s annals in points (101) and goals (45).  He broke both school records this season.  He also was 4 of 5 in penalty kicks this season.

Milroy anchored a defense that helped lead the Yellowjackets to its second consecutive winning season and second winning season in school history.  As a team, the Yellowjackets finished 10-8 overall and had six shutouts on the year.  Individually, Milroy played and started all 18 games.  He had one assist to go along with three shots and was fourth on the team in minutes with 1590.

Dixon, a native of Weymouth, England, led the Yellowjackets with seven assists on the year.  He broke the school record for assists in a career as just a sophomore this season and has 17, topping Thomas Pertuit who had 14 from 2001-2004.  Dixon was third on the team in shots with 24 and had 11 shots on goal.  He played and started in 16 games.

Mitchell, a sophomore from Thornton, Colo., had an impressive season in goal for the Yellowjackets.  He tallied the second-best goals against average in school history at 1.06.  Mitchell played in 17 games and started 14 with a 9-7 record and four shutouts.  He allowed 16 goals and had 57 saves.  His four shutouts are good for second in school history.  Mitchell ranked 38th in goals against average and 48th nationally in save percentage at a .781 clip.

Senior, Missoula, native, Linford tallied one goal and three assists on the year along with one game winner.  His game winner was the lone goal in a 1-0 victory over Seattle Pacific Oct. 4.  He had eight shots and three on goal.  Linford played in all 18 games and started 16.   

2008 GREAT NORTHWEST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE MEN’S SOCCER ALL-STAR TEAM

First Team -  +*Sam Charles, Montana State Billings (F, 6-4, Jr., Chiswell, England); +*Gibson Bardsley, Western Washington (F, 5-11, So., Fall City, WA); *Samir Vejo, Western Washington (F, 5-10, Sr.,Trebinje, Bosnia); +*Matt Pele, Western Washington (M, 6-4, Sr., Kennewick, WA); +Alec Nelson, Seattle Pacific (M, 5-11, Jr., Lynnwood, WA); +Ruben Orozco, Saint Martin’s (M, 5-10, So., Des Moines, WA);  +Alonso Avila, Northwest Nazarene (M, 5-8, Jr., Yuma, AZ); +Nick Saletto, Western Washington (D, 6-4, Jr., Bellingham, WA); +Daniel Palermo, Saint Martin’s (D, 5-9, Sr., Seattle, WA); Elliot Morton, Seattle Pacific (D, 6-4, Fr., Tacoma, WA); *Justin Hoskins, Montana State Billings (D, 5-11, Sr., Billings, MT) ;Cameron Copps-Tilley, Western Washington (GK, 6-1, Jr. , Vancouver, WA).

Second Team -  Michael Ricci, Western Washington (F, 5-8, Jr., Bellevue, WA); Xan Nixon, Saint Martin’s (F, 5-11, Fr., Seattle, WA); Alex Mangeac, Northwest Nazarene (F, 5-8, Fr., Nampa, ID); Drew Williams, Seattle Pacific (M, 5-7, Fr., Bend, OR); Oliver Wellman, Western Washington (M, 6-4, Sr.,, Bellevue, WA); Scott Dixon, Montana State Billings (M, 5-10, So., Weymouth, England); Brock Ogami, Northwest Nazarene (M, 5-8, So., Boise, ID); Colin Kosco, Seattle Pacific (D, 5-11, Sr., Edmonds, WA); Chris Jepson, Western Washington (D, 6-0, Jr., Bellingham, WA); Tom Milroy, Montana State Billings (D, 6-0, Jr., Aberdeen, England); Matt Mitchell, Montana State Billings (GK, 5-11, So., Thornton, CO).        

Honorable Mention -  Tyler Schultz, Seattle Pacific (F, 5-11, Fr., Scottsdale, AZ); Ryan Brand, Seattle Pacific (F, 5-10, Fr., Portland, OR); Ben Mangeac, Northwest Nazarene (F, 5-10, Fr., Nampa, ID); Vlad Voin, Saint Martin’s (M, 5-10, So., Everett, WA); Jurell Linford, Montana State Billings (M, 6-0, Sr., Missoula, MT); Jose Oregon, Northwest Nazarene (D, 5-10, Fr., Nampa, ID); Tucker Maxwell, Saint Martin’s (D, 5-10, Sr., Eagle, ID); Zac Lubin, Saint Martin’s (GK, 6-5, So., Bozeman, MT).

Player-of-the-Year – Matt Pele, Western Washington.  Newcomer-of-the-Year – Ruben Orozco, Saint Martin’s. Freshman-of-the-Year – Alex Mangeac, Northwest Nazarene.  Coach-of-the-Year – Travis Connell, Western Washington.

*Repeater    +Unanimous