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Park University (AZ)

OFFICIAL SITE OF PARK UNIVERSITY GILBERT BUCCANEERS

Sullivan Named Cal Pac Offensive Player of the Year, First Team; Four Others Named Honorable Mention

Following the conclusion of soccer's regular season, a total of six Buccaneers between the Park University Gilbert men's and women's soccer teams were recognized by the California Pacific Conference as members of its All-Conference Team.

 

Nicklaus Sullivan: Offensive Player of the Year, All-Conference First Team

 

The group was headlined by forward Nicklaus Sullivan, who was named the conference's Offensive Player of the Year in addition to getting his first All-Conference First Team nod. Sullivan rewrote the Park Gilbert record books on several occasions throughout the year- most notably setting new school season highs in goals (15), shots (72) and shots on goal (28). In the final game of the season, Sullivan impressed again and recorded the first hat trick in school history. 

 

Not only did Sullivan make his presence known throughout the conference, his numbers put him among the best in the NAIA as well. He finished tied for 20th in the country in goals and 11th in shots. Sullivan adds these two awards to his growing list of accolades, which includes All-Conference Second Team and two Cal Pac Player of the Week awards dating back to last season. He is also the first Bucs' soccer player ever to be named to the First Team.

 

Gabriel MacIntosh, Angel Cervantes, Victor Sanchez: All-Conference Honorable Mentions

 

Joining Sullivan as All-Conference members with Honorable Mention nods are goalkeeper Gabriel MacIntosh, midfielder Angel Cervantes and defender Victor Sanchez.

 

In his freshman season, MacIntosh was superb in the net and kept the Bucs alive on numerous occasions throughout the season. He started all 16 games and totaled 92 saves- both school records. He notched double-digit saves on three occasions; his best performance coming on Oct. 31 against Marymount California in which he recorded 10 saves as the Bucs upset a team receiving votes toward the national standings and kept their playoff hopes alive. He was also named Cal Pac Defensive Player of the Week three times this season.

 

Cervantes, a transfer from Bakersfield College, anchored the Bucs' midfield that greatly improved this season. He played in all 16 contests, totaling 12 shots (five on goal) and three assists, including a two-assist game against Soka on Oct. 30.

 

Sanchez, who wrapped up his collegiate career last Sunday, anchored the back end that allowed more than two goals in just three of their 12 conference games. A team captain, he started all 16 games and totaled a shot against Saint Katherine. Sanchez's Park Gilbert career now includes two All-Conference Honorable Mentions and a Cal Pac Defensive Player of the Week from last season.

 

Lizbeth Medina, Payton Simpson: All-Conference Honorable Mentions

 

On several occasions, Lizbeth Medina singlehandedly gave her team an opportunity to win with her impressive play in the net. The senior, who also wrapped up her career last Sunday, started all 15 games; she set new school records in saves (142), save percentage (72.8) and minutes played (1370). She racked up double-digit saves in five games this season, including 20 against then-No. 22 ranked Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) on Sept. 17. In the Bucs' second meeting with the Eagles, Medina had 18 saves as they came just minutes from completing a draw with the then-No. 22 ranked Eagles.

 

She leaves Park Gilbert as the program's career leader in every major statistical category for goalkeepers, including saves (278), save percentage (68.5), games started (27). She also has three career shutouts under her belt, against South Mountain CC (8/10/19), Benedictine Mesa (3/13/21) and Sierra Nevada (10/15/21). For the shutout against Benedictine Mesa last March, she earned Cal Pac Defensive Player of the Week and is still the only Bucs' women's soccer player to earn the award. She also holds the single-game records for saves with 23 against Ottawa (Ariz.) (8/17/19) and missed just one game since the Bucs' first in 2019.

 

Payton Simpson, a freshman from Queen Creek, Ariz., was one of the most consistent sources of offense for a Bucs team that struggled to find any at times. She scored one of the team's only two goals all season as the Bucs forced overtime against Benedictine Mesa and tied for the team lead in shots, despite missing the final two games of the season due to an injury.

 

Medina and Simpson are the fourth and fifth Bucs' women's soccer players to earn All-Conference nods.

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