PacWest Release #2
PacWest Release #2 (Goalkeeper)
PacWest Release #3
Phoenix, AZ -- In this week's completion of the first six Pacific West Conference Player of the Week, Goalie of the Week, and Weekly Fantastic 15, four Academy of Art University men's soccer athletes were featured. With an impressive second week of the season, senior goalkeeper
Ian Sutherland earned the first Goalie of the Week honor in ART U program history. Also among the Urban Knights receiving weekly honors through the first six releases were senior
Grimur Grimsson, sophomore
Jonmundur Gretarsson, and freshman
Jesus "Chava" Sanchez. The honors were announced by the PacWest Media Office in Phoenix, AZ on Monday, Oct. 8 for games played over the opening six weeks of action (Aug. 31 - Oct. 7).
During the week of Sept. 3-9, Sutherland offered a 1-1 week in which he denied 13 of 15 shots on goal. The Honolulu, HI native completed the week with a 1.00 goals against average and a .867 save percentage. On the biggest stage in program history in front of a crowd of 7,000 (Sept. 5), Sutherland posted his season-high to date with eight saves. Three days later, he would be tough again, allowing a lone goal while stopping five other attempts.
Compared nationally, Sutherland has 56 saves which are the 25th-most in all of NCAA Division II. In terms of the PacWest, the senior currently ranks third in saves and seventh in save percentage (.709). He has made all 11 starts in goal for the Urban Knights and has put in exactly 1,010 minutes between the pipes.
Grimsson has been known for many heroics since donning the ART U red and black, but perhaps none as memorable as his game-winning goal with 38 seconds left against San Francisco State (Sept. 5). The senior's incredible feat not only gave him a PacWest weekly honor, but it also sent the historic crowd home excited for more. The Seltjarnarnes, Iceland native remained as humble as ever after the dramatic conclusion.
“It was a team effort and everybody was working hard,” Grimsson said. “The team has been really working hard for three to four weeks and now it's coming… wins.”
Grimsson leads the Urban Knights in points (6) after scoring a pair of goals and registering two assists as well. His storied ART U career currently has him at 14 goals in total with exactly one half of those game-winners. Needless to say, those are program records in both categories.
The third week of the season (Sept. 10-16) was highlighted by involvement in the game-winning goals for both Gretarsson and Sanchez to propel ART U. Gretarsson delivered a pair of assists in the Knights' 2-1 victory over Azusa Pacific (Sept. 13) to become one of now six Academy of Art University athletes to ever register two assists in the same match.
The Gardabaer, Iceland native added his first goal of the season against Point Loma two days later (Sept. 15) to give him four points for the year. His two assists currently rank second on the team.
One of Gretarsson's assists set up what would be the game-winner by Sanchez against Azusa Pacific (Sept. 13) which earned him the weekly honor. With 67:59 remaining and the Urban Knights up 1-0, Gretarsson had a quick touch to Sanchez who dribbled in and put one away from 10 yards. The goal proved critical as the Cougars responded with a goal in the 74th minute.
For the year, Sanchez is now tied with three of his teammates for the most goals scored (2) on the squad. He also has the most attempts on frame for the Urban Knights with seven shots on goal thus far.
This is the first PacWest Goalie of the Week honor for Sutherland and the third weekly honor of his career. For Grimsson, this is his eighth weekly selection. Gretarsson and Sanchez each pick up their first career PacWest weekly honors.
