WALLA WALLA, Wash. -- Two members of the Whitman College men's soccer team, junior forwards Niels Larson and Jeff Waggoner, have earned spots on the NCAA Div. III Far West All-Region Team.
Larson, a graduate of Portland's Lincoln High School, was voted to the All-Region Second Team. Waggoner, a graduate of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, High School, was a third-team regional selection.
The NCAA All-America and All-Region soccer teams were announced earlier this week. The awards are administered and sponsored by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) and the adidas sporting goods company.
Larson, who led Whitman in scoring as a freshman with nine goals, had six goals and four assists during his junior season. "Niels is a natural player in the one-on-one arena," Whitman men's soccer coach Mike Washington said. "He likes the ball at his feet, where he can go directly at the defense. He has a very powerful shot and is a very physical player, which creates all kinds of problems for the defense."
Larson earned All-Northwest Conference (NWC) First Team honors after his freshman and junior seasons. He was named to the conference second team as a sophomore.
Waggoner, who led Whitman in scoring last fall, booted two goals in two of his last three games to finish with nine on the season, just one behind the NWC scoring leader. A two-time winner of NWC Player of the Week honors during the season, Waggoner kicked the game-winning goals in back-to-back games in early October, powering the Missionaries to a pair of overtime road victories.
"Jeff is a potential game breaker every time he touches the ball," Washington said. "He changes speed and direction with the ball at his feet, and he makes defenders miss all the time. Jeff also works harder than most players. He leads by example and has great character, which is what it takes to succeed at anything."
One of Waggoner's last goals of the season, a header, was memorable, Washington said. "I've seen Jeff score with both feet, but the goal he scored with his head was one of the best goals I've ever seen."
Dave Holden, Whitman Sports Information, 509 527-5902
Email: holden@whitman.edu