PORTLAND, Ore. – The Great Northwest Athletic Conference announced its weekly awards on Monday afternoon, with Seattle Pacific University's
JJ Diaz being named the GNAC Men's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week.
"I'm stoked for JJ," head coach
Kevin Sakuda said. "He's battled through some injuries this year that have limited his minutes, but he is finding his form at exactly the right time in the season. He is such an important piece of the group, and he just brings something a little different up top in his ability to dribble and combine in the final third. He stepped up hugely on Saturday with two timely goals, both finishes showing a ton of composure and class."
Diaz was sensational for the Falcons in their 4-1 victory over Northwest Nazarene last Saturday. He scored twice, had an assist, and finished with five points. Diaz started his day by scoring in the 15th minute when
Isaac Ketcham assisted him with the goal that put the Falcons up 1-0.
Diaz gave the Falcons the lead for the second time in the match in the 51st minute.
Christopher Soto assisted Diaz on his second goal of the match. Diaz was involved in the final goal of the match when he and
Brady Fendrich assisted on
Connor Tollan's goal that put the Falcons up 4-1.
Diaz scored his third and fourth goals of the season against the Nighthawks. He now has eight goals, four assists, and 20 points in his three-year career at SPU.
Saturday's win helped the Falcons earn a share of the GNAC regular season title with Western Oregon. The Falcons and Wolves finished the season with a 6-2-2 conference record and 20 points in the standings.
The Falcons are GNAC Co-Champions for the first time since they won it outright in 2021. It's the fifth regular-season GNAC title in program history. Five regular-season GNAC Championships are the third-most in the conference behind Simon Fraser's eight and Seattle U's six. It's the second regular-season GNAC title the Falcons have won under head coach
Kevin Sakuda.
The Falcons enter the inaugural GNAC Men's Soccer Championships as the two seed, and will play Western Washington on Thursday, Nov. 13, at 11:00 a.m. for the chance to play Western Oregon in the championship match on Saturday, Nov. 15, at 11:00 a.m.
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