PACWEST MEN’S SOCCER WEEKLY NOTEBOOK
IRVINE, Calif. -- Hawai`i Hilo opened the 2018 season with a big 1-0 win over No. 24 Western Washington to become the second PacWest team to defeat the Vikings. The Vulcans overcame a 29-3 disadvantage in shooting to score the game’s only goal.
Matt Wilkinson scored the lone goal in the 63rd minute as Hawai`i Hilo began the season with a win over a nationally-ranked team.
Concordia also won its first match of the season in a big way, beating the defending West Region Champion Cal Poly Pomona, 3-2 on Wednesday.
Connor Gordon scored twice in the match to earn recognition as the PacWest Player of the Week.
Conference play begins this week with Academy of Art traveling to Fresno Pacific on Monday. Then on Wednesday, Point Loma will play at Biola. That will be the first PacWest contest that features two of the five teams that have picked up multiple wins so far this year.
Fresno Pacific will look to remain unbeaten this week with three conference matches. After the opener, the Sunbirds will travel to Southern California to face Concordia on Thursday and Point Loma on Saturday. Last week, the Sunbirds’
Anthony Velarde recorded two goals and an assist. He now ranks third in PacWest history for career assists with 25.
Azusa Pacific will be the first team from California to go to Hawai`i, opening the trip on Thursday against Chaminade. The Silverswords tied the Cougars in California last year. The Cougars will then play at Hawai`i Pacific on Saturday.
Weekly Awards based on week of Sept. 10-16
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Connor Gordon, Concordia
F, Sr., 5-11 -- Huntington Beach
Gordon helped Concordia take out the defending West Region champion by scoring two goals in the Eagles’ 3-2 victory. Gordon’s two goals came within 70 seconds to give the Eagles a 2-1 lead going into halftime. On both goals, Gordon received a cross and took advantage for his first two goals of the season. Gordon now has 25 career goals and 60 points which are the most of any active player in the PacWest. The win was Concordia’s first of the season as the Eagles enter PacWest play with a 1-4 record.
DEFENDER OF THE WEEK
Alejandro Pelayo, Biola
D, Sr., 6-0 -- San Ramon, Calif.
Pelayo helped Biola go 1-0-1 last week with a win over Northwest Nazarene and a tie with No. 18 Fort Hays State. Pelayo played all 200 minutes of action for Biola as he helped the Eagles hold opponents to three goals. Pelayo also scored the equalizer in the tie against Fort Hays State. After
giving up the first goal of the game in the 78th minute, Pelayo tied the game again less than two minutes later with a header off a corner kick. He helped the Biola defense preserve the tie as the Eagles improved to 2-2-1 on the season.
FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Josh Santillian, NDNU
F, Fr., 5-10 -- Union City, Calif.
Santillian played a part in both of Notre Dame de Namur’s goals last week, recording both a goal and an assist. He earned his third assist of the season against Cal State San Bernardino. Two days later against Cal Poly Pomona, he scored his second career goal. The Argonauts are now 1-5 on the season and begin conference play on Thursday.