Nov. 19, 2003

SAN BRUNO, Calif. - Sophomore midfielder Kari Arnason was named to the All-West Coast Conference men's soccer second team, one of four Gonzaga University players honored as the post-season honors were announced Wednesday.

Senior midfielder Scott Yuska, junior forward Arni Ingi Pjetursson and freshman defender John Palladino were Bulldogs accorded honorable mention recognition.

Arnason had five goals and a pair of assists for 12 points for the Bulldogs. He also contributed one game-winning goal. He was an honorable mention selection last year as a freshman.

Yuska also repeated as an honorable mention pick, his five goals and three assists giving him 13 points. Pjetursson was honored for the conference for a second time after earning first team honors as a freshman in 2001. Hampered by injuries part of this season, he still tied for the team-lead in goals with Arnason and Yuska with five, and also had five assists to take the team scoring crown with 15 points.

Palladino had a solid freshman year, scoring a goal and handing out a pair of assists. All 16 of his appearances were starts as he helped shore up a depleted defensive corps.

Eight first-time firt team honorees highlight the 2003 All-WCC squad. the University of Portland's Alejandro Salazar was selected as the WCC Player of the Year, becoming just the third Pilot to earn the honor. Salazar, who was named the WCC Freshman of the Year in 2002, becomes just the fourth player in conference history to have claimed both Freshman of the Year and Player of the Year honors.

Saint Mary's College freshman Matt Fitzgerald was named the conference's Freshman of the Year after scoring three goals and collecting two assists in conference play. Fitzgerald is the first Gael to win the honor since Nick Marcum in 1998.

The University of San Diego's Scott Burcar was tabbed as the conference's Defensive Player of the Year for the second straight season after leading a Torero defense that posted two shutouts in WCC play.

Santa Clara University head coach Cameron Rast took home WCC Coach of the Year honors in just his second year at the helm. Rast is the first men's soccer Coach of the Year to have also won an individual conference honor as a player. Rast earned WCC Defensive Player of the Year honors in 1989 and 1991.

Four WCC squads are also heading to the NCAA College CUp this week - Santa Clara, Portland, San Diego and Loyola Marymount University.

2003 WCC All-Conference Team

First Team

Name/School             YR     Pos.     HometownScott Burcar, USD       SR      M       Tacoma, WARyan Cochrane, SCU      JR      D       Portland, ORSteve Cronin, SCU       JR      GK      Fair Oaks, CAMichael Erush, LMU      SR      D       Van Nuys, CAMatt Fitzgerald, SMC    FR      F       Castro Valley, CAMatt Kovar, LMU         JR      D       Palos Verdes, CAAlejandro Salazar, POR  SO      F       Portland, ORChris Schwarze, USF     JR      D       Camarillo, CADavid Vedder, SMC       SO      D       San Jose, CAWill Weatherly, SCU     JR      F       Bellevue, WAKevin Wilson, USD       JR      M       San Juan Cap., CA

Second Team
Kari Arnason, GON       SO      M/F     Reykjavik, IcelandLance Friesz, USD       FR      GK      Laguna Niguel, CAMiguel Guante, POR      SO      D       Fort Lewis, WAMatt McCausland,USD     SR      F       San Diego, CAHeath Pearce, POR       SO      D       Modesto, CAJon Povey, USF          SR      D       Mission Viejo, CASy Reeves, USD          SR      F       Ellensburg, WAChris Sanders, POR      FR      F       Federal Way, WABen Stuart, USF         SR      M       Tucson, AZErik Ustruck, SCU       FR      M       Manchester, MOJunior Ybarra, LMU      FR      M       Santa Barbara, CA

Freshman of the Year: Matt Fitzgerald, Saint Mary's
Defensive Player of the Year: Scott Burcar, San Diego
Coach of the Year: Cameron Rast, Santa Clara