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Eight Lions Recognized by WCC
Nov. 19, 2008
San Bruno, CA - Roger Downes highlighted eight LMU players who were named on the All-West Coast Conference postseason awards list, the conference office announced Wednesday. Downes was one of the top award winners, garnering three separate selections. He became the second Lion ever to be awarded the WCC Freshman of the Year honor while also earning spots on the league's All-Freshman and Second Teams. Sophomore Rafael Baca was named to the First Team while Downes, junior Patrick Sampson, and senior Brad Stisser were Second Team selections. LMU also had senior Stephen Carlson and sophomore Vincent Ocampo on the Honorable Mention list and Downes, Artur Jozkowicz, and Tyler Krumpe were each All-Freshman Team selections.
Making his first appearance on the First Team was Baca (Lawndale, CA), who earned his second consecutive all-conference honor after being named to the Second and All-Freshman Teams last year. For the second straight year, Baca led the Lions in scoring, netting five goals and 11 points in 2008, including four goals during conference play. In addition to leading the team in goals and points, Baca also had the most minutes played (1850) and shots (67) of any Lion. His 67 shots were the second-most in a single season in LMU history and second in the WCC this season. Joining Downes on the Second Team were junior Patrick Sampson (Lake Oswego, OR) and senior Brad Stisser (Highlands Ranch, CO), who both earned their first WCC recognition. In his first season as a starter, Sampson had an outstanding year in the Lion goal, turning in the second-best goals-against-average (0.87) in school history. His 62 saves were fourth-best in the WCC and he was tied for the second-most shutouts with four. Sampson started the year by being named the WCC Player of the Month for September and was twice named the conference's Player of the Week during the season's first month. Stisser led the team with a career-high four assists and was second overall with three goals and 10 points. All three of his goals came during conference play as he stepped up his play over the final 14 games. Highlighting the Honorable Mention team were senior Stephen Carlson (Honolulu, HI) and sophomore Vincent Ocampo (San Diego, CA). This is Carlson's second appearance on the Honorable Mention list, having also been awarded the honor in 2005. One of LMU's two captains, the fifth-year senior was a leader on and off the field, playing the second-most minutes of any Lion (1695) and contributing three assists. Off the field, Carlson was a First Team CoSIDA Academic All-District selection and one of 30 candidates nationwide for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award. Ocampo, meanwhile, garnered his first conference honor after scoring one goals and providing two assists. Ocampo's first career goal came in the finale this past Sunday against league champions San Francisco and proved to be the match-winner. With the Lions regularly starting five freshmen each game, it was natural that they would have the most selected to the All-Freshman Team. Downes, Tyler Krumpe, and Artur Jozkowicz mark the most LMU players ever honored on the conference's All-Freshman Team. Krumpe (Torrance, CA) started 15 of his 19 games at right back, a new position for him after playing up front throughout high school. He adapted well to the change, playing the fifth-most minutes on the team despite missing two games. He even managed to get forward, scoring his first career goal in the season finale and adding two assists for four points. Jozkowicz (Krakow, Poland) finished third on the team with eight points despite coming off the bench for eight of his 19 matches. He tied for second on the Lions with three goals and added two assists in just 939 minutes. LMU's six honorees on the First, Second, and Honorable Mention Teams was tied for the most from one school this season. WCC champions San Francisco also had six players earn all-conference recognition. The eight total players honored also equaled the most in a single season at LMU, joining the 2004 squad, which had six all-conference and two all-freshman selections. LMU (7-8-5, 5-6-1 WCC) finished fifth in the WCC.
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