SEATTLE (Nov. 12) - Jeremy Yerkes of Seattle Pacific University was a unanimous choice for men's soccer newcomer of the year in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference and was one of the Falcons' three first-team all-conference selections by the coaches.

Yerkes (So., Gresham, Or.) led the Falcons and was third in the GNAC with nine goals and 24 points this season as a transfer midfielder from Tacoma Community College. He was one of five unanimous first team all-conference picks.

Paul Nissley of Western Washington was voted the league player of the year. Travis Connell, a 1996 graduate of Seattle Pacific, was coach of the year after leading the Vikings to the GNAC title and a 15-4-1 record.

Joining Yerkes from SPU on the first team were midfielders Brent Egbert (Jr., Bellingham, Wa./Sehome) and Ross Vaillancourt (Fr., Bedford, NH).

Making second team all-GNAC were defender Mike Pardini (Sr., Pasco, Wa.), midfielder Michael Brkich (So., Vancouver, B.C.) and forwards Grant Falco (Sr., Veradale, Wa./University) and Nick Letts (Fr., Dublin, Ca./Redwood Christian). Pardini and Falco were repeat selections. Forward David Smith (So., Corvallis, Or.) received honorable mention.

GREAT NORTHWEST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE MEN'S SOCCER ALL-STAR TEAM

First Team
*Paul Nissley, Western Washington Forward 6-0 So. Mount Vernon, WA
*Alex Chursky, Seattle Forward 6-0 Fr. Federal Way, WA
*Jeremy Yerkes, Seattle Pacific Forward 5-8 So. Gresham, OR
*Pat Doran, Seattle Midfielder 5-11 Fr. Bellingham, WA
*Matt Hulen, Seattle Midfielder 5-10 Sr. Woodinville, WA
Ian Weinberg, Western Washington Midfielder 5-10 Sr. Seattle, WA
Brent Egbert, Seattle Pacific Midfielder 5-8 Jr. Bellingham, WA
Jeremy Milsten, Western Washington Defender 6-2 So. Puyallup, WA
Justin Miller, Seattle Defender 6-0 Jr. Kent, WA
Ross Vaillancourt, Seattle Pacific Defender 5-11 Fr. Bedford, NH
Ben Dragavon, Western Washington Goalkeeper 6-1 Fr. Monroe, WA

Second Team
Will Borg, Humboldt State Forward 5-11 Jr. Greeley, CO
Nick Letts, Seattle Pacific Forward 6-2 Fr. Dublin, CA
Grant Falco, Seattle Pacific Forward 5-10 Sr. Veradale, WA
James Vert, Seattle Midfielder 5-9 Jr., Seattle, WA
Michael Brkich, Seattle Pacific Midfielder 5-10 So. Vancouver, BC
Eric Blatt, Western Washington Midfielder 6-0 Sr. Spokane, WA
Jacob Besagno, Seattle Defender 6-2 So. Maple Valley, WA
Justin Scholze, Western Washington Defender 6-4 Sr. Federal Way, WA
Michael Pardini, Seattle Pacific Defender 5-11 Sr. Pasco, WA
Shawn Pelton, Northwest Nazarene Defender 5-10 Jr. Eagle, ID
Brandon Sewell, Seattle Goalkeeper 6-1 Jr. Federal Way, WA
*Unanimous