By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University senior midfielder Casey Dineen (Portland, OR/Jesuit HS) has been selected Second Team All-Northwest Conference in voting by the NWC head coaches. WU players Luke Lagattuta (Sr., MF, Albuquerque, NM/Highland HS) and Erik Kaufman (So., F, Portland, OR/Grant HS) received Honorable Mention.

2009All-NWC
Men's Soccer Team

Complete List

Overall, 40 athletes received All-Conference honors. Twelve were chosen for the First Team, with 12 on the Second Team and 16 on the Honorable Mention list.

John Yorke, head coach at Pacific Lutheran University, was named NWC Coach of the Year. Forward Elly Bulega from Whitworth University was named NWC Offensive Player of the Year and goalkeeper Andrew Stevermer of Pacific University was chosen NWC Defensive Player of the Year.

Dineen scored six goals this season to tie for second on the team in overall scoring with 12 points. He started 17 games, took 36 shots and had 19 shots on goal. He went 2 for 2 on penalty kicks.

During his career at Willamette, Dineen played in 67 games with 64 starts. He scored nine goals and achieved four assists, while taking 128 shots. He was known for his ability to link the defense with the attack and for his skill at moving past defenders to set up scoring opportunities.

Lagattuta started 18 games and led the team with 1,511 minutes played this season after moving from defender to midfielder. He added significantly to Willamette's offense, as he contributed three goals and a team-high six assists. He tied with Dineen for second on the team in scoring with 12 points. He took 21 shots, including 11 shots on goal.

In four years at WU, Lagattuta played in 73 games and had 68 starts. He was a solid defender during his first three years, before moving into the midfield for his final season. He scored four goals and provided seven assists in his career.

Kaufman was the top scorer for the Bearcats this year. He scored a team-high nine goals to go with two assists for 20 total points. He took 32 shots and placed 19 of them on goal. Three of his goals were game-winners, in road games at Simpson and George Fox and in with five seconds left in overtime at home against Linfield in the season finale.

During the year, Kaufman scored a goal in seven games, including each of the last three games of the year and four of the last six. In his two years at WU, he has scored 15 goals and two assists for 32 points. He has seen action in 37 games with 33 starts. He has taken 60 shots, including 36 shots on goal.

All three of Willamette's All-NWC selections placed more than half of their shots on target. Kaufman led the team at 59.4% (19 of 32), while Dineen finished the year at 52.8% (19 of 36) and Lagattuta connected at 52.4% (11 of 21).

The Bearcats concluded the season at 6-13-0 and finished in fifth place in the nine-team NWC at 5-9 (15 points). Willamette was 3-3 in its final six conference games, as the Bearcats recorded 13 goals in those games.