Four Bearcats are Named All-Region X with Alexander and Gallaway on First Team

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University men's soccer players Drew Alexander (Fy., D, San Mateo, CA/Junipero Serra HS) and Pierce Gallaway (Sr., M, Carmel, CA/Carmel HS) have been named First Team All-Region X for NCAA Division III. Sean Kim (Jr., F, Sunnyvale, CA/Homestead HS) of Willamette was chosen for Second Team All-Region honors, while Pierluca Carnovale (Jr., GK, Seattle, WA/Ballard HS) was selected Third Team All-Region. The All-Region Team was voted on by members of the United Soccer Coaches.

The 2022 All-Region X Men's Soccer Team honored a total of 33 players. The list included 11 First Team selections, with 11 players on the Second Team and 11 players on the Third Team.

Willamette concluded the 2022 season with a 14-3-3 overall record as the Bearcats won the Northwest Conference Championship and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division III Tournament. Willamette was ranked #25 in the final regular season NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Coaches Poll released by the United Soccer Coaches. WU won or tied the first 11 games of the season (9-0-2), setting a school record for consecutive games without a loss at 13, including the final two games in the fall of 2021. The Bearcats scored 53 goals and registered seven shutouts on defense (5-0-2 record). Willamette has earned a 66-22-14 (.716) record over the past six seasons, including 54-15-9 (.750) in the NWC.

First Team All-Region X

Drew Alexander (Fy., D) had an outstanding season as a first-year player for the Bearcats, and has added First Team All Region X honors to his previous recognition as First Team All-Northwest Conference. He provided Willamette with exceptional speed and talent, plus a desire to play strong defense and create offensive chances. He made key contributions at both ends of the field.

Alexander was difficult to defend on offense, as he used his skills to get past defenders and then find teammates with space to shoot. He tied for Willamette's team lead with six assists, and also scored one goal -- the second goal in a 3-1 victory over the University of Wisconsin-Platteville in the NCAA Tournament.

"Drew came in with the correct mentality and preparedness to take on the collegiate game," Willamette Head Men's Soccer Coach Sam Adelman said. "We expected him to accomplish big things in his first year, but receiving first team recognition from our conference and region is more than we had envisioned. It speaks to his quality and his work rate as a first-year that he performed as well as he did. He fit our system like a glove, and he will hopefully continue to climb to new heights. I trust he will be a mainstay in these honors for the next few years."

Pierce Gallaway (Sr., M) was chosen First Team All-Region X this year, after receiving Third Team All-Region X recognition in 2021. In addition, Gallaway was selected First Team All-NWC and NWC Offensive Player of the Year this fall. During the 2021 season, he was chosen Second Team All-NWC. This year, he scored 12 goals and earned six assists for 30 total points to lead the Bearcats. He produced 62 total shots for the Bearcats, including 29 shots on goal.

He scored a hat-trick with three goals against the University of California, Santa Cruz, in a 4-2 win on Sept. 11, and earned two goals in a 3-1 victory at Pacific University on Oct. 23. He scored the third goal in WU's 3-1 win against the University of Wisconsin-Platteville in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Gallaway played in all 64 games during his career with 63 starts. He registered 20 goals, 10 assists, and 50 points as a Bearcat. He took 130 shots with 59 shots on goal. He was 7 for 7 on penalty kicks in his career and earned five career game-winning goals.

"Pierce's hunger and drive to dominate the game, take everything on, and conquer it, will make him formidable at the levels he will continue to ascend in his career moving forward," Adelman asserted.

Second Team All-Region X

Sean Kim (Jr., F) earned Second Team All-Region X honors after a solid season as one of Willamette's team leaders in 2022. In addition, he  was chosen First Team All-NWC for the second consecutive year. This season, he scored five goals and supplied teammates with four assists for 14 points. He created 42 total shots and had 18 shots on goal. Two of his goals were game-winners, including the go-ahead goal in the 79th minute in a 3-2 victory at Whitman College on Oct. 2. In the fall of 2021, he led Willamette in scoring with six goals and three assists for 15 total points. He also led the team with 37 total shots and 19 shots on goal.

In three seasons with the Bearcats, Kim has played in 41 games with 36 starts. He has scored 15 goals and nine assists for 39 total points. He has accumulated 94 shots while placing 45 of those shots on goal. He has achieved four game-winning goals.

"Sean continues to be recognized for his incredible ability on the ball, his competitive drive to win every battle he faces, and his fearlessness to take on anyone in front of him ... and usually win that duel," Adelman commented. You always have to consider him when planning to play us, and you can see how the opponent adjusts to try and nullify his quality. It rarely happens where the opponent get the better of him. This recognition is well deserved, and he will do all in his power to return to this list and perhaps move up to the first team next year."

Third Team All-Region X

Pierluca Carnovale (Jr., GK) led Willamette's defense through a highly-successful season that included a conference title and an NCAA Tournament berth. As a result, he was named Third Team All-Region X for the first time. He was chosen Honorable Mention All-NWC fall and was named Second Team All-NWC in 2021. This season, Carnovale earned six solo shutouts and one combined shutout on is way to achieving a 1.17 goals against average. He started 19 games, registered 49 saves, and finished the year with a 13-3-3 goalkeeping record, including the win in Willamette's NCAA Tournament victory over UW-Platteville. He was credited with seven saves at Pacific Lutheran University on Oct. 29, 2022, tying his career high originally set against Whitworth Univerisity on Oct. 31, 2021.

During his career, Carnovale has been in goal for 3,474 minutes of action while playing in 44 games with 36 starts. He has earned a 26-7-4 record (.757) and has accumulated 10 solo shutouts, seven combined shutouts, and 117 saves.

"Pierluca was snubbed in the NWC honors this year, but we all understood that his recognition would be made up when it came to the regional awards," Adelman noted. "He continues to develop his game year after year, and has impressed so many around him with how far he's come. Pier is extremely capable, works hard, and serves this award. His ability in his position has saved our backs countless times, and we simply wouldn't have as much success as a program, on or off the pitch, without him."