Kaufman, McGrew and Vazquez are Named Second Team All-NWC

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

SALEM, ORE. -- Three members of the Willamette University men's soccer team -- Erik Kaufman (Jr., F, Portland, OR/Grant HS), Mike McGrew (Jr., MF, Portland, OR/Grant HS) and Adan Vazquez (So., F, Woodburn, OR/Woodburn HS) -- have been chosen Second Team All-Northwest Conference for 2011 in voting by the NWC head coaches. Kaufman, McGrew and Vazquez combined for 20 goals and 12 assists during the season, on their way to finishing 1-2-3 in scoring for the Bearcats.

A total of 43 athletes were named to the All-NWC Men's Soccer Team. Twelve players were selected First Team All-NWC, with 13 players named to the Second Team and 18 players earning Honorable Mention.

Second Team All-NWC

Kaufman was Willamette's leading scorer this season with 7 goals and 4 assists for 18 total points. He tied for fourth in the NWC in goal scoring and was fifth in points.

When Kaufman earned at least one goal or one assist the Bearcats went 6-1-1, including a 2-1 victory over eventual NWC champion Pacific Lutheran University on Sept. 18 in Tacoma, Wash. Five of his seven goals were game-winners. He set personal career-highs with 39 total shots and 21 shots on goal.

It was a tremendous comeback for Kaufman, who missed all of the 2010 season with a leg injury. In three seasons on the field, he has scored 22 goals and provided 6 assists for 50 total points. He scored 6 goals in 2008 and contributed 9 goals and 2 assists in 2009. He has played in 54 games during his career, including 50 starts.

McGrew led the Bearcats with 41 total shots and finished the season with 6 goals and 4 assists (16 points). In addition, he took many of Willamette's offensive restarts. He scored five of his goals in NWC play, including wins over Pacific Lutheran, George Fox University (twice) and Linfield College.

His efforts in the midfield were important to Willamette's efforts to move into the attack. He provided quality passes to the forwards, which helped him link up well with both Kaufman and Vazquez.

During three seasons at Willamette, he has achieved 6 goals and 10 assists for 22 total points. He earned a career-high 6 assists in 2010. He has seen action in 51 games for the Bearcats and has registered 41 starts.

Vazquez tied McGrew for second place on the team in scoring with 6 goals and 4 assists for 16 points. Vazquez scored four of his goals in the final seven games of the season. He took a total of 35 shots and placed 18 of the shots on goal.

He concluded the season with a three-game goal-scoring streak -- all on the road -- as Willamette played at Whitman College, Whitworth University and Linfield.

In two years with the Bearcats, Vazquez has played in 35 of 36 matches, including 29 starts. He has taken 48 shots in his career with 23 shots on goal.

The 2011 Season

This season was the first for Head Coach Lloyd Fobi at Willamette. The Bearcats were picked to finish seventh in the Northwest Conference according to the NWC Preseason Poll, but concluded the year tied for fifth place with Pacific University. Willamette was 6-9-2 overall and 5-8-1 in the NWC.

Willamette's win at Pacific Lutheran highlighted the schedule, as the Bearcats gave the Lutes one of their two losses in NWC action. WU swept the season series against both George Fox and Linfield.