Four Bearcats are Chosen First Team All-NWC, Fobi is Coach of the Year

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

SALEM, ORE. -- Four members of the Willamette University men's soccer team have been chosen First Team All-Northwest Conference for the 2014 season, and Head Coach Lloyd Fobi has been named NWC Coach of the Year, in voting by the league's head coaches. In addition, one Bearcat was named Second Team All-NWC.

The First Team selections from Willamette were goalkeeper Braydon Calder (Jr., Philomath, OR/Philomath HS), forwards Julian Hanlon-Austin (So., Portland, OR/Grant HS) and Yazan Hishmeh (Jr., Ventura, CA/Saint Bonaventure HS), and defender Kevin Martin (Sr., Cardiff-by-the-Sea, CA/Francis Parker School). Midfielder Adam Lewis (Sr., Corvallis, OR/Crescent Valley HS/Pomona-Pitzer) earned a spot on the Second Team.

Willamette finished the year with a 13-5-2 overall record, including 10-2-2 (2nd place) in the Northwest Conference. The Bearcats recorded the most overall victories since 1991 and set a team record for conference wins. WU ended the year just one point behind NWC champion Whitworth University in the conference standings.

A total of 29 athletes were named to the 2014 All-NWC Men's Soccer Team. Twelve players were chosen for the First Team, with 12 players on the Second Team and five players receiving Honorable Mention.

Forward Michael Ramos of Whitworth was named NWC Offensive Player of the Year. Matt Bray, also from Whitworth, was chosen NWC Defensive Player of the Year.

First Team All-Northwest Conference

Braydon Calder (Jr., GK) played 1,436 minutes in goal for the Bearcats and achieved a 0.94 goals against average. He recorded 70 saves and achieved a 10-5-2 record with five solo shutouts and one combined shutout. He achieved a .824 save percentage.

In three seasons with the Bearcats, Calder has earned a 1.12 career goals against average, while contributing 227 saves. He has a goalkeeping record of 28-16-6 to go along with 11 solo shutouts and three shared shutouts. He was named NWC Defensive Student-Athlete of the Week three times this season (Sept. 29, Oct. 13, Oct. 27) and once in 2013 (Sept. 16).

Calder was chosen Second Team All-Northwest Conference in 2013.

Julian Hanlon-Austin (So., F) competed in 14 games this season with 12 starts. He scored two goals and two assist for six total points. His speed on the wing forced many teams mark him with two players, which helped other offensive players gain open space. He took 21 shots, including eight shots on goal.

Hanlon-Austin has played in 31 games (16 starts) in his first two seasons with the Bearcats. He has scored a total of four goals and provided three assists. This year, he scored the first goal in WU's 3-1 win over Pacific Lutheran University on Sept. 28. Last year, he scored the only goal in a 1-0 win over University of California-Santa Cruz on Sept. 13, 2013.

Yazan Hishmeh (Jr., F) tied for the NWC lead with 13 goals scored this season. He also achieved two assists and was second in the NWC with 28 total points. Hishmeh recorded two hat tricks with three goals in a 7-0 win over Multnomah University on Sept. 13 and three goals against George Fox University in a 4-1 win on Oct. 5.

He topped Willamette's offensive chart with 50 total shots and 23 shots on goal. Seven of his 13 goals were game-winners. He was named NWC Offensive Student-Athlete of the Week three times (Sept. 16, Oct. 7, Oct. 28). He played in 16 games with 15 starts.

In 2013, Hishmeh was chosen Honorable Mention All-NWC after scoring nine goals and six assists for 24 total points. In his career, he has played in 54 games, while earning 29 goals and 11 assists. He has taken 125 shots, including 57 shots on goal. He has recorded nine game-winning goals.

Kevin Martin (Sr., D) played in 15 games with 13 starts this year. He helped Willamette achieved a 1.01 team goals against average, as the Bearcats achieved seven shutouts and held six opponents to one goal. He also contributed on set plays, earning 14 total shots.

In his career, Martin played in 65 games and recorded four goals and four assists for 12 total points. He scored two goals in just three games in 2013, before an injury forced him to miss the rest of the year. He received a medical hardship waiver and was able to compete in a fifth year in 2014.

He finished his career with 46 shots and 20 shots on goal. He was named NWC Defensive Student-Athlete of the Year on Oct. 21, 2014 and Sept. 13, 2013.

Second Team All-Northwest Conference

Adam Lewis (Sr., MF) was the only Bearcat to start all 20 games this year, and was a key player in moving the ball from defense to offense. He made significant contributions on defense and also provided quality passes to other midfielders and forwards. He tied for second on the team with three assists.

He played in 16 games (10 starts) at Pomona-Pitzer (Calif.) as a freshman before transferring to Willamette. During his three years with the Bearcats, he saw action in 51 games with 50 starts. Lewis scored two goals and achieved four assists in his WU career, while taking 26 total shots, including nine shots on goal.

Northwest Conference Coach of the Year

Head Coach Lloyd Fobi was selected as the NWC Coach of the Year. Fobi, in his fourth season with the Bearcats, guided Willamette to a 13-5-2 overall record, including 10-2-2 (32 points) in the NWC. The Bearcats finished second in the NWC, just one point behind Whitworth.

Willamette scored a total of 40 goals in 20 games, while holding opponents to 21 goals. The Bearcats recorded a total of seven shutouts. WU scored two or more goals eight times and created three or more goals five times. Twenty-one Willamette players achieved at least one goal or one assist during the season.

In his four seasons at Willamette, Fobi has led the Bearcats to a combined record of 39-27-9 (.580). His teams have earned an overall record in NWC action of 28-20-8 (.571). This year, Willamette was ranked #7 in the final regular season West Region Poll released by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA).