PACWEST RELEASE
 

LA MIRADA, Calif. --- Regardless of the result, Biola Men's Soccer gave every PacWest opponent a tough test during their first year in the conference. The Eagles season was highlighted by big wins against Notre Dame De Namur at home and Azusa Pacific at home. And they pushed top teams California Baptist and Point Loma Nazarene to the brink before finishing their season with a 7-5-1 PacWest record.

Head Coach Todd Elkins' team did not stick to a particular offensive or defensive script during the 2017 season, the Eagles simply went with the dividends of their toughness and hard work to earn shutouts or wring out 2-1 victories.

The PacWest recognized three players for anchoring the Eagles' efforts during the regular season. Senior centerback Sammy McKay earned a spot on the All-PacWest first team while captains Kousei Mattox and Riley Waldeck appeared on the second and third teams, respectively.

"I think the first thing you notice about our team is that we are solid defensively," said Elkins. "We lean really really heavily on our defensive unit and all three of these players are known for what they bring to us defensively. And yet each one of them also contributed quite a bit to our offense and we need that from them. That's what impresses me most about these guys."

This is McKay's second time on an all-conference team after landed on the all-GSAC team last season. The Fullerton, California native scored four goals this season, three during conference play and put his mark on matches with his athleticism and body control in the air. McKay was named PacWest Defender of the Week on Oct. 2.

"Sammy knows how to use his athleticism, particularly his pace and his closing speed, to close down an area or a player when he thinks he's gonna get to a ball," said Elkins. "He covers ground and knows when to do it. Sammy picks his moments to hit the afterburners and he has a knack on the attacking end that really came out for the first time for us last year." 

Mattox earns the end-of-year conference honor after serving as the Eagles primary initiator on set pieces and regularly frustrating opponents with his ability to control and win the ball. He scored a big penalty kick goal in Biola's 3-1 win over Hawaii-Hilo and started all 18 matches for Elkins. This is the third time Mattox has been named an all-conference player.

"Kousei is probably our most dependable player on the ball," said Elkins. "He is strong and smart defensively and reads the game well to cut off passes and jump on loose balls. He's also the first guy we go to to establish possession. His great vision and awareness allow us to play the ball to him in a tight space and still get the ball settled."

The All-PacWest recognition is a long time coming for Waldeck, who has been a four-time starter for Elkins. Waldeck played alongside McKay as the Eagles collected six clean sheets this season and contributed to Biola's counterattacks with three assists during conference play. This is the first time Waldeck has been named an all-conference defender.

"I don't think Riley has gotten enough credit so maybe this [honor] is overdue for him," said Elkins. "He doesn't have some of the sprinter's pace that maybe Sammy has, so so he has to be very calculating a positionally very sharp. Riley has always surprise me when he's gotten isolated or needs to catch a guy, he always steps up and rises to the occasion of the attacker he has to deal with."