PORTLAND, Ore. – Simon Fraser has often had to battle the elements along with their opponents this season. Through it all, junior midfielder Mark Talisuna proved to be a consistent team leader and headlines the 2022 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Men's Soccer All-Conference Team.

Named the GNAC Player of the Year, Talisuna was a key presence in the Simon Fraser midfield all season, logging 1,519 minutes while starting all 17 matches. He was the Red Leafs' go-to player from the penalty spot, taking all three of SFU's penalty kicks and netting every one for his three goals on the year.

Talisuna is the eighth SFU player to win the conference's top player award since the program joined the GNAC in 2010.

"Mark's role is to get us going in the way we want to play, and he is excellent at that," says Red Leafs head coach Clint Schneider. "He can be so dominant in games because of the way he plays, and how he moves. When he is in a role where we need him to defend, he is excellent in that as well. Mark just makes things go because he's always an outlet to play, and he's so good that you can put him in tight spots. If he has people around him, he can get himself out of tight spots. This is why I think he'll be a pro and have a decent career at it. What he does and what he can do, he can do at a really high level. I'm really excited about what those next steps are going to be for him, and I can't wait to see where he ends up."

Talisuna is joined on the first team by teammate and junior midfielder Devin O'Hea. O'Hea started all 17 matches and was the second-highest scoring player for Simon Fraser, netting six goals and adding two assists.

"This is the first year Devin has been healthy to just do athletics, period," remarks Schneider. "He's been dealing with a back issue he picked up playing American football a couple of years ago. I think we're only seeing just the start of what Devin is going to be, and we're going to reap the rewards of that. He still has another year of eligibility. Him being honoured with a place on the first team is excellent. I'm excited about what Devin is going to look like when he's healthy, and he's got a couple years of football under his belt."
 

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Defenders Niko Papakyriakopoulos and Nicolai Placzek and goalkeeper Justyn Sandhu were named to the second team. Papakyriakopoulos (1,527), Sandhu (1,527) and Placzek (1,526) led the Red Leafs in minutes played as they anchored the team on the defensive side of the field.

"He's a really special talent," says Schneider of Placzek. "I think we're going to get more and more out of him with a couple more seasons in our environment. I'm excited for him and I can't wait to see what he can do."

Papakyriakopoulos led SFU with six assists, which tied for second in the GNAC. He also scored three goals on the year.

"This is the best year Niko has had, statistically and defensively," says Schneider. "A lot of teams didn't go down his side and when they did, he took care of business. Recording the goals and assists like he did was exceptional. I'm really happy for him, and it is really deserved."
 
Placzek added one goal, a game winner, on the offensive end. Sandhu went 11-5-1 with six shutouts, 69 saves and an .802 save percentage.

"Justyn Sandhu is one of the best goalkeepers I've ever had with his feet," says Schneider. "He's extremely calm, and he has so much more to give. Excited for him to come back next year."
 
Three Red Leafs were honorable mentions:
Midfielder Alan Soto (16 games played, 14 starts, a team-high seven goals, one assist, a team-high 15 points)
Midfielder Justus Meier (12 games played, 11 starts, 1 goal, 2 points)
Midfielder Ali Zohar (15 games played, 14 starts, 4 assists, 8 points)
 
"Ali, Justus and Alan are exceptional players," says Schneider. "I'm proud they were recognized because it wasn't an easy year. It was extremely difficult with a lot of uncontrollable situations. Justus getting an honorable mention says a lot about him. He didn't play half the season in the GNAC because he got hurt."
 
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