By Mark Colachico, Interim Assistant Athletics Communications Director

SALEM, ORE. -- After scoring his second hat trick of the season Sunday against George Fox, Yazan Hishmeh (Jr., F, Ventura, CA/Saint Bonaventure HS) of Willamette University has been selected as the Northwest Conference Men's Soccer Offensive Student-Athlete of the Week for the week ending on Oct. 5.

So far this season, Hishmeh has scored a team-leading 10 goals with one assist for a combined total of 21 points. Among the Northwest Conference leaders, Hishmeh is tied at the top in goals and ranks second in points.

In Willamette's 4-1 victory Sunday over George Fox, Hishmeh registered the third hat trick of his career scoring goals at 21:31, 31:53, and 78:59.

Hishmeh's first goal came on a 16-yard shot from just inside the penalty area, while his second goal came via a diving header after the ball deflected off the keeper from a corner kick.

Late in the second half, Hishmeh was pulled down in the 18-yard box and awarded a penalty kick that he calmly deposited into the far right side of the net for his third goal of the afternoon.

This is the second straight game against the Bruins in which Hishmeh has scored three goals, as the junior forward registered a natural hat trick (three-in-a-row) on October 19, 2013 in Salem.

Hishmeh scored the second hat trick of his career earlier this season on September 13 against Multnomah University (Ore.) that earned him his first-ever NWC Offensive Student-Athlete of the Week award.

In two-and-a-half seasons with the Bearcats, Hishmeh has scored 26 goals, handed out nine assists, and tallied 51 points in 46 career games.

This is the second straight week that a Willamette player has been named NWC Student-Athlete of the Week, as goalkeeper Braydon Calder (Jr., GK, Philomath, OR/Philomath HS) earned defensive honors seven days ago.

Willamette returns to the pitch on Sunday, October 11, against NWC rival Linfield College beginning at 2:30 p.m. (PDT) in McMinnville, Oregon.