Bjornethun scored both Seattle U goals in the final 1:36 of the 2-1 victory at No. 13 Oregon State on Sunday, Sept. 27, capping off a weekend in which the Redhawks’ defeated two nationally ranked teams. He played all 180 minutes in defense vs. the Beavers as well as in the win vs. No. 10 Washington at home.
The Redhawks earn their first national ranking of the 2015 season, ranked No. 24 in the NSCAA Division I Men’s National Poll, also ranked No. 15 in the Top Drawer Soccer Top 25 and No. 16 in the College Soccer News Top 30. In the first NCAA RPI rankings of the year, SU also debuts at No. 16. Regionally, the NSCAA ranks the Redhawks No. 3 in the West Region.
As a team, the Redhawks rank 12th among all NCAA Division I men’s soccer teams in both GAA (0.56) and total goals (18) and 17th in won-loss-tied percentage (0.778) as well as 23rd in goals per game (2.00).
The NSCAA Players of the Week are announced every Tuesday throughout the fall college season by the national coaches’ association. In 2013, the program was expanded to include a men’s and women’s winner from all three NCAA divisions as well as junior colleges.
The Redhawks remain home to open WAC play, hosting Kansas City on Friday, Oct. 2 and Air Force on Sunday, Oct. 4. Sunday’s match will be broadcast on the WAC Digital Network, which is free to watch online, on iPhone, or tablet. Friday’s match will be broadcast for free on GoSeattleU.com.