Simon Fraser University completed another near-perfect season in NCAA Division II men's soccer with a 3-0 win over Western Washington on Sunday.

The win clinched a third consecutive Great Northwest conference title for the No. 3-nationally ranked Clan.

With the victory, SFU held on to its top seeding in the West region and became the first international school to compete for a NCAA national title.

As the No. 1-ranked team, SFU will get a bye into the first round at regional qualifying. The Clan will play the winner of fourth-ranked Notre Dame de Namur and No. 5 Cal State Stanislaus in the second round.

Justin Wallace scored what proved to be the game-winning goal just 10 minutes into the game.

Senior defender Michael Winter made it 2-0 in the 20th minute, pouncing on a rebound and beating the Western Washington keeper.

J.D. Blakley earned his fourth shutout of the year with the win. Blakley had to make two saves to post the victory.

Senior John Hodnett iced the win in the 86th minute on another SFU goal off a rebound.

"It's great to finish the season with a 3-0 victory over a quality Western Washington University squad," said SFU head coach Alan Koch in a Clan press release. "Thankfully, we got out of the game with limited injuries and battled through some pretty adverse weather conditions. Now we look forward to seeing how the NCAA national tournament bracket comes out."

Last year, the SFU men finished the regular season with an unbeaten 18-0-1 season.

This season, the Clan boasted an overall 16-1-1 mark and were 12-1-1 in conference play.

The Clan also boasted 13 players earning all-conference recognition, including Koch, who garnered his third Great Northwest coach of the year honour in the year-end coaches poll.

Winter was named the Great Northwest player of the year, while Ryan Dhillon was selected conference freshman of the year.

Carlo Basso, Helge Neumann, Matt Besuschko and Winter were named to the all-conference first team for a second time.

Six other SFU players also earned all-conference second team or honourable mention recognition.

sports editor