Senior goalkeeper Luis Robles is named the WCC Defensive Player of the Year
SAN BRUNO, Calif. - University of Portland goalkeeper Luis Robles was named the West Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year and earned his third consecutive All-WCC First Team award, the league announced on Wednesday. Robles was joined on the first team by fellow Pilot Christopher Sanders, a second team pick in 2003, while sophomore striker Alex Elliott earned second team honors.
Junior midfielder Matthew Dallman was an honorable mention pick for the second time in his career, while freshman midfielder Collen Warner also earned honorable mention and All-Freshman Team awards. Warner was joined on the All-Freshman Team by defender Logan Emory.
Santa Clara head coach Cameron Rast was selected WCC Coach of the Year for the second time in his career, while SCU midfielder Stephen McCarthy shared the league’s Freshman of the Year honors with San Diego’s Ciaran O’Brien. San Francisco’s Rob Valentino was tabbed for WCC Player of the Year recognition, becoming the second Don in the last three seasons to take home the conference’s top individual honor.
Robles, a native of Sierra Vista, Ariz., was the lone senior on the Pilots roster in 2006 and capped his career as a four-time all-conference award-winner. In addition to his three first team selections, he earned honorable mention status as a freshman in 2003. Robles posted a 1.17 goals-against average, 93 saves and four shutouts this season. He finished his career with a school-record 346 saves.
Sanders scored seven goals and four assists for the Pilots after returning from a broken foot that sidelined him all of last season. Elliott led the team with nine goals, while Dallman added two goals and a team-high six assists. Warner capped an impressive freshman campaign with three goals and one assist, while Emory started all 19 matches as a central defender and tallied one goal.
2006 WCC ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS
Player of the Year: Rob Valentino, San Francisco
Defensive Player of the Year: Luis Robles, Portland
Co-Freshman of the Year: Stephen McCarthy, Santa Clara/Ciaran O’Brien, San Diego
Coach of the Year: Cameron Rast, Santa Clara
FIRST TEAM - YR - POS - HOMETOWN
Nick Blanco, Loyola Marymount JR F Littleton, CO
Bobby Burling, Loyola Marymount SR F/D Monument, CO
Michael Caso, San Diego SR F Newhall, CA
Keith DeVey, Santa Clara SR M/F Kula, HI
Matthew Fitzgerald, Saint Mary’s SR F Castro Valley, CA
Ryan Guy, San Diego SR F Carlsbad, CA
George Josten, Gonzaga JR F Idaho Falls, ID
Kevin Meissner, San Diego SR M San Diego, CA
Luis Robles, Portland SR GK Sierra Vista, AZ
Christopher Sanders, Portland JR F Federal Way, WA
Rob Valentino, San Francisco JR D Cave Creek, AZ
SECOND TEAM - YR - POS - HOMETOWN
Diego Barrera, Loyola Marymount JR F/M Thousand Oaks, CA
Alex Elliott, Portland SO F Vancouver, B.C.
Dylan Leslie, Saint Mary’s FR M Lancaster, CA
Kevin Long, San Francisco SR D Irvine, CA
Peter Lowry, Santa Clara JR F/M Fair Oaks, CA
Ciaran O’Brien, San Diego FR M Tacoma, WA
John Palladino, Gonzaga JR M Spokane, WA
Chris Rodd, San Francisco JR D Danville, CA
Geremy Uhl, San Francisco SR GK Cypress, CA
Erik Ustruck, Santa Clara SR M St. Louis, MO
Austin Washington, Gonzaga JR D Spokane, WA
HONORABLE MENTION
Desmond Brooks, SMC; Joseph Buttitta, SCU; Aaron Chandler, USF; Alex Christlieb, SMC; Matthew Dallman, POR; Jawaan Delaney, LMU; Tim Grey, USD; Matt Hatzke, SCU; Amaechi Igwe, SCU; Brian Martin, SCU; Stephen McCarthy, SCU; Jide Ogunbiyi, SCU; Sam Reeder, USD; John Reha, GON; Jamil Roberts, SCU; Ben Sawyer, GON; Collen Warner, POR; Junior Ybarra, LMU
ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM - POS - HOMETOWN
Conor Chinn, San Francisco F San Diego, CA
Jeff Cosgriff, Santa Clara M San Bruno, CA
Logan Emory, Portland D Boise, ID
Tim Grey, San Diego D Port Orchard, WA
Amaechi Igwe, Santa Clara F Belmont, CA
Dylan Leslie, Saint Mary’s M Lancaster, CA
Stephen McCarthy, Santa Clara M Colleyville, TX
Ciaran O’Brien, San Diego M Tacoma, WA
Tye Perdido, Gonzaga F Kula, HI
Ryan Peterman, San Diego D Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Collen Warner, Portland M Denver, CO
