Sekyra, Jacobson Earn Top Awards As Eight Make All-GNAC Women's Soccer Teams
November 10, 2003

SEATTLE (Nov. 10) – Heidi Jacobson (So., Kirkland, Wa./Cedar Park Christian) of Seattle Pacific University was voted the newcomer of the year in women’s soccer and first-year Falcon coach Chuck Sekyra earned coach of the year honors in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.

In all, Seattle Pacific placed three players on the GNAC first team all-stars, another on the second team and four more received honorable mention. SPU won its second straight conference championship last week and is now bound for the NCAA Division II tournament this weekend in San Diego.

Jacobson, a transfer forward from Gonzaga, scored seven goals and had eight assists during the regular season. She was joined on the first team by midfielder Shannon Lovejoy (So., Seattle, Wa./Seattle Prep) and goalie Jennifer Hull (Jr., Eugene, Or./Sheldon). Lovejoy was a repeat selection. Making the second team was defender Katie Lim (Jr., Hillsboro, Or.).

Sekyra, an SPU alum who was previously an assistant coach for the Falcon men’s program and the Washington women’s team, guided the team to a 17-1-2 record, including 11-0-1 in conference play. Seattle Pacific has been among the NCAA leaders in team defense, allowing only six goals in 20 matches.

Earning honorable mention were midfielders Megan Lienhard (So., Everett, Wa./Cascade) and Sarah Melby (Jr., Mukilteo, Wa./Kamiak) and defenders Michelle Everson (Jr., Tacoma, Wa./Stadium) and Nicole Ruiz (Sr., Federal Way, Wa.).