Sports - Sports News

POSTED: Monday, Dec. 29, 2008

WOMEN'S COLLEGE SOCCER: Connell named Far West Coach of the Year

Western Washington University women's soccer coach Travis Connell has been named the National Soccer Coaches Association of America/adidas NCAA Division II Far West Region Coach of the Year for 2008.

Connell directed the Vikings to a 17-3-2 record and the Great Northwest Athletic Conference championship before losing 1-0 in overtime to eventual national champion Seattle Pacific in the NCAA II Far West Regional title game.

The Vikings had defeated SPU once and tied another time during the regular season.

The 17 wins were a WWU school record and the Vikings' 16-game unbeaten streak was the longest since 1986.

In six seasons as head of the women's program at Western, Connell has posted a 71-42-8 record, being named GNAC Coach of the Year in 2006 and 2008.

Connell also heads men's soccer at Western, having a 94-87-11 record in 10 seasons. Connell was the GNAC men's Coach of the Year last fall as the Vikings won the league title. That marked the first time in league history that the same coach had been honored in both men's and women's soccer in the same year.