SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – The Portland Pilots had several players earn All-WCC awards this year, with Nick Fernandez being named Midfielder of the Year, Kevin Bonilla earning Defender of the Year and Efetobo Aror winning WCC Freshman of the Year.
 
All three of those Pilots earned All-WCC honors, with Fernandez and Bonilla each making the first team and Aror making the freshman team. Along with them, Jacob Babalai made the All-WCC First Team, Buba Fofanah and Sebastian Nava made the All-WCC Second Team, Nick Denley, Sebastian Hernandez and Kash Oladapo earned honorable mention and Diego Rosas made the freshman team.
 
Fernandez is the first Pilot ever to win WCC Midfielder of the Year and does so after a stellar year for Portland. Fernandez played in 14 matches with 12 starts, scoring two goals and adding seven assists. His most recent goal was the game-winner against San Francisco that helped secure the Pilots' a bye in the NCAA Tournament. Fernandez finished fourth in the WCC in total assists and second in assists per game (.50), with his assist average ranking 20^th nationally.
 
Bonilla was masterful both offensively and defensively for the Pilots, helping him earn WCC Defender of the Year and becoming the first Pilot since 2011 to win the award. Starting every match at right back, Bonilla scored a goal and posted 10 assists on the year, with his assist total leading the WCC and ranking seventh nationally. It was also the highest total from a Pilot since 2017. His assists per game average of .62 was also seventh nationally in first in the WCC. Bonilla guided the Pilots to eight shutouts on the year as well.
 
Aror rounds out the individual award winners, having become the first Pilot to win Freshman of the Year since 2016. Aror was vital as a holding midfielder for the Pilots, playing every match and starting in the last 11. He was the only freshman to play every match for Portland. Aror had three assists on the year as well.
 
For All-WCC honors, Babalai rounds out the first team selections, putting together one of the best offensive regular seasons in recent history. His 12 goals through just 16 games were the most by a Pilot through that span of matches since 2012 and also led the WCC. No other WCC player posted double-digit goals this year. His goal total ranked 12^th nationally and his point total (28) was 15^th, also leading the conference.
 
Right alongside Babalai was Buba Fofanah, who posted a career-best season with nine goals and six assists for 24 points. His goal total was second in the WCC along with his point total. Fofanah was the only Pilot to post at least five goal and five assists on the year, and his goal total was more than double his previous season best.
 
Nava was stellar as an attacking midfielder, posting three goals as well as eight assists for 14 points. His goal against Sacramento State in the season opener proved to be the game-winner as well. Nava ranked second in the WCC in both total assists and assists per game (.50), with his assist average ranking 20^th nationally and his assist total ranking 23^rd.
 
Opposite side of Bonilla, Nick Denley was a sturdy left back for the Pilots. He played in 14 matches with 12 starts and added two assists on the year. Both of his assists came in Portland's dominant 5-0 win over the Gonzaga Bulldogs. Denley also played in seven of the Pilots' eight shutouts this year.
 
Hernandez earned honorable mention in his first season as a regular starter. He started all 16 matches at center back for Portland and proved to be a valuable set-piece finisher, scoring three goals with four assists. It's the most goals from a Pilot defender since 2015. He also partook in all eight of Portland's shutouts.
 
Oladapo stepped in late season for the Pilots and was solid between the pipes. He posted six shutouts over 13 matches (12 starts), the most of any WCC player. His goals-against average of .740 is also tops in the WCC. Oladapo posted 27 saves on the year with a .750 save percentage.
 
The final Pilot to earn All-WCC recognition was Rosas, who made the freshman team alongside Aror. Rosas played in 15 matches with six starts as a freshman the second most appearances of any Pilot freshman behind only Aror. Rosas had four assists on the season, including the game-winning assist against Saint Mary's.
 
The Pilots had a stellar season in 2023, earning the 11^th seed in the NCAA Tournament and a bye straight to the second round after posting a 12-4 record, the second straight season with 12 wins or more. It's the first time the Pilots have earned the bye since 1988 and the first time they've posted back-to-back seasons of 12 wins or more since 2002. They currently hold a program record of 28 games straight unbeaten at home and also broke the program record for assists with 54.

The Pilots will host one of either the Oregon State Beavers or the Seattle U Redhawks on Sunday, Nov. 19 at 5 p.m. here at Merlo Field. Check PortlandPilots.com for live video, stats and ticket options.
 
Below is the full honorees for All-WCC.
 
2023 West Coast Conference Men's Soccer All-Conference Awards
WCC Coach of the Year
Cameron Rast, Santa Clara

WCC Offensive Player of the Year
Mason Tunbridge, San Diego

WCC Midfielder of the Year
Nick Fernandez, Portland
 
WCC Defender of the Year
Kevin Bonilla, Portland

WCC Goalkeeper of the Year
Eric Waltz, San Francisco

WCC Freshman of the Year
Efetobo Aror, Portland

WCC All-Conference
First Team
Jacob Babalai, F, Portland
Kevin Bonilla, D, Portland
Gabriel Bracken Serra, MF, San Francisco
Caden Buckley, F, Santa Clara
Trevor Dillon, D, San Diego
Nick Fernandez, MF, Portland
Adem Hamdaoua, MF, Santa Clara
Riley Lynch, F, Saint Mary's
Reid Roberts, D, San Francisco
Jack Stoecker, GK, Santa Clara
Mason Tunbridge, MF, San Diego
 
Second Team
Steven Anderson, LMU
Cesar Bahena, San Diego
O'Keefe Cunningham, LMU
Buba Fofanah, Portland
Rhys Gourdie, San Diego
Martin Kwende Jr., Santa Clara
Robbie Mora, Gonzaga
Sebastian Nava, Portland
Derick Roque, Pacific
Tyger Smalls, LMU
Ethan Warne, San Diego
 
Honorable Mention
Vicente Ayala, San Diego
Stefano Campisi, Gonzaga
Nick Denley, Portland
Max Hamelink, San Francisco
Sebastian Hernandez, Portland
Cory Johnson, Pacific
Ross Johnstone, San Diego
Ryan Kingsford, LMU
Bradyn Knutson, LMU
Luke Lawrence, Saint Mary's
Farhan Moustafa, Gonzaga
Wade Muttitt, Saint Mary's
Kash Oladapo, Portland
Damani Osei, Santa Clara
Aaron Sandhu, Santa Clara
Louis Sterobo, Saint Mary's
Callum Stretch, LMU
Eric Waltz, San Francisco
 
WCC All-Freshman Team
Toke Amtrup, Saint Mary's
Efetobo Aror, Portland
Jack Civitts, Santa Clara
Sam Dahlin, Gonzaga
Martin Kwende, Jr., Santa Clara
Chris Maldonado, San Francisco
Steven Ramirez, San Diego
Oliver Rhoades, San Diego
Diego Rosas, Portland
Rylan Smith, San Francisco
Justin Sosa, Saint Mary's

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