Nov. 18, 2009

SAN BRUNO, Calif. - A record equaling seven Gonzaga University players were honored Wednesday when the West Coast Conference handed out its 2009 All-WCC men's soccer accolades as selected by the conference coaches.

Senior forward Tye Perdido (Kalua, Hawai'i) was named to the first team while senior defender Nick Barclay (Boise, Idaho) and senior midfielder Ben Funkhouser (Spokane Valley, Wash.) were second-team selections. Senior goalkeeper Scott Barnum (Fall City, Wash.), senior defender Tim Muravez (Corvallis, Ore.), sophomore defender Mitch Boland (Villa Park, Calif.) and freshman midfielder James Matern (Spokane, Wash.) were honorable mention honorees. Matern was also named to the All-Freshman team.

The Bulldogs had seven players honored in 2007.

Perdido led the Bulldogs in scoring with six goals and five assists for 17 points, finishing his career with 21 goals 13 assists and 55 points. His career goals and points rank fifth all-time, while his 13 assists tie for sixth. He earned his second straight All-WCC first-team honor.

Barclay had another strong season on defense in a conference that was laden with outstanding defenders. Joined by Muravez and Boland to give Gonzaga a formidable defense, the Bulldogs recorded four shutouts and held opponents to one goal or less in 13 matches. Barclay became a two-time All-WCC selection and last season became the first Bulldog to garner Defender of the Year accolades. Muravez was also an honorable mention selection a year ago, and Boland was a member of the 2008 All-Freshman team.

Funkhouser tied for second on the team in scoring this season with four goals and four assists for 12 points. He finished his career with 10 goals, 13 assists to tie Perdido and two others for sixth all-time and 33 points. He led the team in match-winning goals this season with two against Georgia Southern University in the Gonzaga Nike Soccer Classic semifinals and against the University of San Francisco. He finished with four match-winning goals in his career.

Barnum was strong in the nets for the Bulldogs, posting a .127 goals-against-average for seventh on the all-time Gonzaga single-season list. The 23 goals allowed tie for eighth on the single-season chart. His four shutouts tie for fifth on the single-season list and he set a single-season career record with 104 saves. His six shutouts in a Gonzaga uniform - he had 12 more in two seasons at Whitworth College prior to transferring - are fourth all-time and his 258 saves rank second. His 1.35 career GAA ranks fourth.

Matern started all 16 of his appearances this season, missing three matches late in the season while ill. He scored one goal but complimented a senior laden group of senior midfielders and forwards with his ball control and field awareness.

The University of San Diego, which posted an 8-2-2 conference record to capture its fifth WCC title, was awarded WCC Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year honors. Senior defender Ryan Peterman was named the league's Player of the Year while forward Patrick Wallen garnered Freshman of the Year honors.

Second place finisher Saint Mary's College, which came off its best season in program history and will be making its inaugural appearance at the NCAA Tournament this year, took home the remaining individual honors with junior Jordan Grider being named the Defensive Player of the Year and Gaels' Head Coach Adam Cooper earning the league's top coaching accolade.

Peterman was selected to the All-WCC first team last year and continued his impressive campaign this season as a starter in every game of his career with the Toreros. Peterman was a crucial part of the backfield this year, helping guide the WCC's top team to the most conference shutouts this season. Peterman also contributed on the front end with two assists and was pivotal in the Northwest contests late in the season.

Grider is only the second Saint Mary's player to receive the Defensive Player of the Year award. Grider was instrumental in the Gaels' run to second place in the WCC standings, competing in all 12 conference games. Grider led a defense that recorded a new Saint Mary's single-season record with seven shutouts and tallied the second best record behind the conference champion in goals allowed.

Wallen made notable contributions to the Torero campaign in his first collegiate season. In the month of October alone, Wallen earned WCC Player of the Month honors, after leading San Diego to a 7-1-0 overall and conference record, as well as recording four goals, two of which were game-winners, and three assists for 11 points.

Cooper was awarded his first WCC Coach of the Year honor, after leading the Gaels to its first at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. Cooper led his team to its first 10-win season in Gael history (10-4-5), and his selection as Coach of the Year marked the first time a Saint Mary's coach has ever won this award.

All seven WCC teams were represented on the All-WCC first team, with five players as repeat honorees, including Peterman, 2008 Player of the Year Conor Chinn, and 2009 WCC preseason all-conference team members Rafael Baca, Perdido, and Collen Warner. Every WCC team also had at least one player named to the All-WCC second team and all-freshman team.

Player of the Year: Ryan Peterman, USDDefensive Player of the Year: Jordan Grider, SMCFreshman of the Year: Patrick Wallen, USDCoach of the Year: Adam Cooper, SMC

First-Team All-WCCJalil Anibaba, SCURafael Baca, LMUConor Chinn, USFJordan Grider, SMCAustin Guerrero, PORDylan Leslie, SMCTye Perdido, GONRyan Peterman, USDJarad vanSchaik, PORPatrick Wallen, USDCollen Warner, POR

Second Team All-WCCNick Barclay, GONKelin Briones, USDBryan Burke, USFJason Coehlo, SMCAndrew Feld, USDBen Funkhouser, GONRyan Kawulok, PORJonathan Levi, USFErik Hurtado, SCULogan McDaniel, LMUVincent Ocampo, LMUSam Reeder, USD

Honorable MentionMalcolm Alugas, SMCScott Barnum, GONMitch Boland, GONJames Cohn, USDVictor Cortez, USFPhil Da Silva, LMURoger Downes, LMULogan Emory, PORTim Grey, USDDoug Herrick, SMCWilliam Johnson, LMUTyler Krumpe, LMURyan Luke, POREric Masch, SCUJames Matern, GONTim Muravez, GONTrevor Newquist, SMCMichael Nielsen, PORYousef Samy, SMCPatrick Sampson, LMUBrandon Zimmerman, SCU

All-Freshman TeamJose Cabeza, SMCRicardo Carrillo, PORJames Cohn, USDErik Hurtado, SCULarry Jackson, SCUJames Matern, GONTrevor Newquist, SMCJames Rochlitz, LMUBrendan Roslund, USFSean Sears, LMUMarc Tonkel, PORPatrick Wallen, USD