Bearcats Place Seven Players on All-NWC Men's Soccer Team

By John Lind, Assistant Athletics Communications Director

SALEM, ORE. -- With a 10-7-2 record in the bag for their first winning season since 2000, several players from the Willamette University men's soccer team received some well-deserved individual recognition as seven Bearcats were awarded with All-Northwest Conference honors.

Mike McGrew (Sr., MF, Portland, Ore./Grant HS) was selected First Team All-NWC. Etienne Galbreath (Sr., D, Portland, Ore./Grant HS), Erik Kaufman (Sr., F, Portland, Ore./Grant HS) and Trevor Jensen (Jr., MF, Chula Vista, Calif./Bonita HS) were named to the Second Team. Three Bearcats -- Kevin Martin (Jr., D, Cardiff-by-the-Sea, Calif./Francis Parker HS), Austin Jacobson (Fr., MF, Salem, Ore./South Salem HS) and Yazan Hishmeh (Fr., F, Ventura, Calif./Saint Bonaventure HS) -- each received Honorable Mention All-NWC recognition.

Willamette's seven selections are a record for the men's soccer team since the Bearcats and the rest of the NWC joined NCAA Division III in 1998. The previous best for selections was four, which Willamette achieved in 1999, 2001 and 2002.

First Team All-Northwest Conference

Mike McGrew (Sr., MF) is the first Bearcat to be named First Team All-NWC since 2003, and one of only eight for WU since 1998. He was named Second Team All-NWC in 2011 and Honorable Mention All-NWC in 2010. McGrew was one of the most productive players for the Bearcats this year, finishing second on the team with five assists and third on the squad with 30 shots.

His lengthy throw-ins consistently created scoring chances for the Bearcats. He also provided quality service on free kicks and on crosses from the run of play. During his Willamette career, McGrew played in 68 games with 57 starts, scored six goals, and contributed 12 assists.

Second Team All-Northwest Conference

Etienne Galbreath (Sr., D) has been a mainstay in the Bearcat defense throughout his entire career, playing in 70 games and starting 60 contests. He also has contributed to Willamette's offense.

This year, Galbreath took 23 shots while scoring a goal and adding two assists. In his career he recorded 61 shots and placed 23 shots on goal. He scored four goals and notched eight assists during his career.

Erik Kaufman (Sr., F) is one of Willamette's most decorated players, earning his fourth All-NWC nomination this year. He has been chosen Second Team All-NWC for the second season in a row. He was named Honorable Mention All-NWC in 2008 and 2009, before missing the entire 2010 season due to injury.

In 2012, Kaufman tied for fourth on the team in scoring with four goals and three assists for 11 points. During his career, he played in 73 games including 68 starts. He scored 26 goals, added nine assists, and achieved 124 shots with 68 shots on goal. He registered 11 game-winning goals in his WU career.

Trevor Jensen (Jr., MF) started 18 of 19 games in 2012, and was third on the team with 1,523 minutes played. Jensen led Willamette with 18 points on five goals and a team-high eight assists this season. He ranked third in the NWC in overall scoring.

Jensen earned a hat trick with three goals in a 3-2 victory at archrival Linfield College on Oct. 6, 2012. His 31 total shots this season were good for second on the team. In his first three years at Willamette, Jensen has scored seven goals and notched 11 assists for 25 points in 54 games.

Honorable Mention All-Northwest Conference

Kevin Martin (Jr., D) teamed with Galbreath to create a formidable duo at the center back position for Willamette. Martin played in 18 games this season, starting 17, and was second on the team in minutes played at 1,538. He also found his offensive streak, scoring two goals and taking 11 shots, with five shots on goal.

In his career, Martin has played in 47 games with 40 starts. He has recorded two goals and three assists. He has placed nearly half of his shots on target with 29 total shots and 14 shots on goal.

Austin Jacobson (Fr., MF) wasted little time making an impact as a freshman this season, playing in 16 games for the Bearcats. He was second on the team with six goals, and also contributed three assists for 15 total points.

He scored two goals against Trinity University (Texas) and scored twice in a 3-0 win at Pacific University. He registered the game-winning goal in WU's 3-2 (2 OT) victory over previously undefeated Whitworth University on Oct. 27. Jacobson took 26 shots in 2012, hitting 11 of them on goal.

Yazan Hishmeh (Fr., F) stepped into the starting forward position and made his presence known immediately this season. A big, physical presence in the attacking third, Hishmeh led Willamette with seven goals in 2012, which tied him for third in the entire NWC. He added two assists and earned 16 total points. He led the team with 33 shots and 19 shots on goal.

Hishmeh recorded two goals in a 4-0 win over Walla Walla University and scored one goal in five other games. The Bearcats were 5-1 when he scored a goal.

The 2012 Season

Willamette's successful season included a 7-5-2 record (23 points) in the Northwest Conference for a fourth place finish. Under the guidance of Head Coach Lloyd Fobi, the Bearcats scored 36 goals to lead the conference and averaged 13.2 shots per game.