SFU roundup: Van Laare nets 18
Guard Kia van Laare of New Westminster had a game-high 18 points as the Simon Fraser University women’s basketball team downed the Western Oregon Wolves 80-38 at SFU’s West Gym on Saturday.
All of her points came from beyond the arc hitting six of eight shots from three-point range.
“For me I just think it works to be calm and focusing on shooting,” said van Laare in a press release. “Our guards are really good at getting the ball to the open person and I was open [Saturday].”
With the win, the Clan are 8-1 on the season and 2-0 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play. They don’t play again until Dec. 29 when they play host to the Trinity Western University Spartans.
“Going into this break, it’s really important we set goals for ourselves in practice and do our best to keep our fitness up,” said van Laare. “We need to focus on what’ to come because we have some big games coming after the break.”
Last Thursday, the Clan women opened up GNAC play by downing the visiting Saint Martin’s Saints of Lacey, Wash., 82-45. Erin Chambers led the Clan with 24 points while van Laare contributed nine points and three assists in 19 minutes of floor time.
Men lose to defending champs
The Clan men’s hoopsters kicked off conference play with a 93-76 loss to the defending NCAA Division II champion Western Washington University Vikings on Saturday.
SFU’s David Gebru had a game high 34 points for the Clan, who next play on Dec. 17 against Dominican University of California Penguins in San Rafael and the Academy of Art University Urban Knights in San Francisco on Dec. 19.
Soccer dreams dashed
Simon Fraser University men’s soccer squad’s attempt to become the first Canadian school to win a NCAA championship came to an abrupt end Thursday. The Saginaw Valley State Cardinals of Michigan downed the Clan 3-1 in a championship semifinal in Evans, Ga.
The Cardinals scored the only goal of the first half in the 15th minute, but then added two more in the first 10 minutes of the second half. Carlo Basso got SFU’s only goal in the 59th minute on an unassisted play.
After the tournament, SFU’s Matt Besuschko was named a first-team all-American, while Michael Winter earned a spot on the second team with freshman Ryan Dhillon making the third and Carlo Basso receiving honourable mention.
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