KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Santa Clara men's soccer sophomore Emil Christensen and Javier Ruiz Duran were recognized with yet another post-season award, this time being named to the United Soccer Coaches All-West Region teams.  The United Soccer Coaches announced on Monday.  

 

Christensen earned second team honors while Ruiz Duran repeated as a third teamer, making them the first multiple Broncos to be named to the All-West Region team since 2012 when Erik Hurtado was named first team and Larry Jackson to the third team.  

 

Ruiz Duran is the first Santa Clara player to repeat on the All-West Region team since current Bronco volunteer assistant coach Jide Ogunbiyi in 2007 and 2008 when he was named first and third team.  

 

Christensen and Ruiz Duran are the 23rd and 24th Broncos overall to be named to the United Soccer Coaches (formerly NSCAA) All-West Region team.    

 

Last month, Ruiz Duran garnered first team All-West Coast Conference honors while Christensen was named second team.  

 

Ruiz Duran, a midfielder from Barcelona, Spain, tied for the team-lead in goals (4) and points (8) with three of the goals being game-winners.  The left-footer played in all 17 matches and had the game-winners against San Jose State (Sept. 6), CSUN (Oct. 5) and San Francisco (Oct. 30). 

 

Christensen, a sophomore central defender from Nr. Snede, Denmark, logged a team-high 1,560 minutes playing in all but 10 minutes.  The Broncos posted five shutouts on the season.  He was named All-WCC Player of the Week on Sept. 30 for spearheading the Santa Clara defense which posted back-to-back shutout wins on the road at Lipscomb and at Evansville.