SEATTLE (Oct. 30) ­ Cliff McCrath, who guided the Seattle Pacific men's soccer team to its record 30th NCAA playoff appearance, was selected the Great Northwest Athletic Conference coach of the year and both Justin Abel and Josh Burnside earned player accolades Monday.

McCrath is in his 37th year at SPU and has a record of 504-183-80. This fall he led SPU to a 12-6 record and to their first GNAC title in the six-year history of the conference. The Falcons shared the title with Seattle University.

Abel (Jr., Snohomish, Wa.) a central midfielder who transferred after two seasons at St. John's, was voted the GNAC newcomer of the year and Burnside, a defender, shared freshman of the year honors. Abel started all 18 games and scored three goals. Burnside (Fr., Black Diamond, Wa./Kennedy) had three assists and started all but three games.

Seattle Pacific led the all-star selections, placing seven players on the team, including goalkeeper Kellen Rosten (Jr., Colorado Springs, Co./Dopherty) and defender Matt Kemper (Jr., Colorado Springs, Co./Palmer), who were the lone repeaters from last year's first team. Also voted to the first team by the coaches were forwards Colin Rigby (Sr., Mercer Island, Wa.) and James Coggan (Jr., San Jose, Ca./Valley Christian), midfielders Abel, Michal Morris (Sr., Bothell, Wa./Blanchet) and Jeff Hallenbeck (Jr., Redmond, Wa./Inglemoor).

First Team
Colin Rigby, SPU F 6-2 Sr. Mercer Island, WA
Jason Cascio, SU F 5-11 Jr. Phoenix, AZ
Gus Zadra, WWU F 5-11 Sr. Poulsbo, WA
James Coogan, SPU F 5-11 Jr. San Jose, CA
Pat Thomas, SU M 6-0 Sr. Billings, MT
Justin Abel, SPU M 5-11 Jr. Snohomish, WA
Jeff Hallenbeck, SPU M 5-8 Jr. Redmond, WA
John Fishbaugher, SU M 5-11 Jr. Redmond, WA
Michael Morris, SPU M 5-8 Sr. Bothell, WA
Adam Jensen, SU D 5-11 Sr. Missoula, MT
Matt Kemper, SPU D 6-0 Jr. Colorado Springs, CO
Erik Forner, SU D 6-0 Jr. Sacramento, CA
Kellen Rosten, SPU G 6-2 Jr. Colorado Springs, CO

Player-of-the-Year: Jason Cascio, Seattle University.

Newcomer-of-the-Year: Justin Abel, Seattle Pacific.

Freshman-of-the-Year: Cameron Mertens, Seattle (5-7, Fr., Kennewick, WA ­ Southridge); Josh Burnside, Seattle Pacific (D, 6-2, Fr., Black Diamond, WA ­ Kennedy), and Chris Jepson (D, 6-0, Fr., Bellingham, WA ­ Sehome).