Five Zags Selected To All-WCC Team
11/15/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
SAN BRUNO, Calif. -- The Gonzaga Bulldogs had two First Team All-WCC selections, two honorable mention selections, and a WCC All-Freshman team honoree, as the 2016 All-WCC Team was announced by the conference office Tuesday.
Senior Jakob Granlund was selected to the first team for the first time, as he was previously chosen to the honorable mention team last year and the all-freshman team in 2013. Junior Jalen Crisler joined him on the first team as a first-time selection. He was selected honorable mention in 2014. Junior Christo Michaelson earned honorable mention honors for the Zags, his first conference award. Junior Ben White was also selected honorable mention. He was a preseason All-WCC honoree, as well as a 2015 First Team All-WCC selection, 2014 honorable mention choice, and 2013 all-freshman team honoree. Finally, defender Davis Behnke was tabbed to the all-freshman team.
Granlund, a senior forward from Ikast, Denmark, battled injuries in 2016, but still led the team in points and assists. His 14 points were sixth in the WCC and his six assists were fourth. Granlund also scored four goals this year, good for second on the team and ninth in the WCC. His name is now etched permanently in the GU record books. He finished sixth in single-season assists this year. On the career lists he finished third with 17 assists and his 41 points are ninth. His 142 career shots rank eighth.
Crisler, a junior defender from Everett, Wash., played in 17 games for GU this season, starting 16. He had three goals, fourth on the team, one assist, eighth on the team, and seven points, which ranked sixth on the Bulldogs. He anchored a defense that allowed only 10 shots per game and he took 24 shots, third on the team.
Michaelson, a junior midfielder from Lake Oswego, Ore., scored four goals for GU, second on the team and ninth in the WCC. He added three assists, good for third on the team, for a total of 11 points, third on the team and 10th in the WCC. His 37 shots ranked second on the team.
White, a junior defender from Tigard, Ore., had four assists this season, second only behind Granlund on the team and fifth in the WCC. He added two goals, sixth on the team, for eight points, which was fourth on the Zags.
Behnke, a freshman defender from Tacoma, played in all 18 matches, starting in 15 of them. He played the back line with Crisler, and took two shots. The Zags posted three shutout wins and held the opposition to one goal on four different occasions.
Portland claimed three of the four individual player honors led by senior forward Eddie Sanchez earning WCC Player of the Year honors. Teammate Paul Christensen was named the WCC Goalkeeper of the Year, and Pilots forward Benji Michel became the second Portland player in four years to nab WCC Freshman of the Year honors. Loyola Marymount junior Connor Johnson was named the WCC Defender of the Year.
All five individual awards - including the all-conference teams - were voted on solely by the WCC's eight head coaches. Gonzaga's season came to a close last Saturday night with a 1-1 tie against Pacific on Senior Night in Spokane.
Player of the Year: Eddie Sanchez, Portland Defensive Player of the Year: Connor Johnson, Loyola Marymount Goalkeeper of the Year: Paul Christensen, Portland Freshman of the Year: Benji Michel, Portland Co-Coach of the Year: Ryan Jorden, Pacific & Nick Carlin-Voigt, Portland
2016 WEST COAST CONFERENCE MEN'S SOCCER FIRST TEAM
| Name | School | Year | Position |
| Tristan Blackmon | Pacific | Jr. | D |
| Julio Cervantes | Pacific | Sr. | F |
| Jalen Crisler | Gonzaga | Jr. | D |
| Jakob Granlund | Gonzaga | Sr. | F |
| Connor Johnson | Loyola Marymount | Jr. | D |
| Benji Michel | Portland | Fr. | F |
| Kris Reaves | Portland | Jr. | D |
| Eddie Sanchez | Portland | Sr. | F |
| Rafael Sanchez | Saint Mary's | Sr. | D/M |
| Leon Schwarzer | San Francisco | Jr. | M |
| Michael Turner | San Diego | Sr. | M |
2016 WEST COAST CONFERENCE MEN'S SOCCER SECOND TEAM
| Name | School | Year | Position |
| Valdemar Andersen | Santa Clara | Sr. | D |
| Ben Braman | Saint Mary's | Jr. | D |
| Brennan Castro | Santa Clara | Sr. | D |
| Paul Christensen | Portland | Jr. | GK |
| David Garrett | San Francisco | Sr. | F |
| Curtis Goldsmith | Pacific | Jr. | GK |
| Aaron Lombardi | San Francisco | Jr. | M |
| Adrien Perez | Loyola Marymount | Sr. | F |
| Josh Smith | San Francisco | Sr. | D |
| Jakub Svehlik | Saint Mary's | Fr. | M |
| Wouter Verstraaten | Pacific | Soph. | D |
2016 WCC MEN'S SOCCER HONORABLE MENTION
Merlin Baus, San Diego; Miguel Berry, San Diego; Matt Coffey, Portland; Carlos Delgadillo, Santa Clara; Santiago Digiuseppe, San Francisco; Andrew Konstantino, Saint Mary's; Alvaro Madirgal, Loyola Marymount; Patrick McGrath, San Diego; Christo Michaelson, Gonzaga; Lionel Mills, Portland; Jose Ochoa, Loyola Marymount; Camden Riley, Portland; Ander Saez, Pacific; Ben White, Gonzaga
2016 WEST COAST CONFERENCE MEN'S SOCCER ALL FRESHMAN TEAM
| Name | School | Position |
| Garrett Amador | Loyola Marymount | D |
| Jelani Ambrose | Santa Clara | D |
| Davis Behnke | Gonzaga | D |
| Miguel Berry | San Diego | F |
| Andreas Charalambous | Pacific | M |
| Gio Magana-Rivera | Portland | M |
| Benji Michel | Portland | F |
| Anthony Orendain | Pacific | F |
| Matt Orr | San Francisco | D |
| Jake Rudel | Saint Mary's | D |
| Jakub Svehlik | Saint Mary's | M |
