PORTLAND, Ore.--Western Oregon senior goalkeeper Austin Valdez played a key role in two Wolves wins last week that helped secure their third straight Great Northwest Athletic Conference regular season title. 

Valdez was honored today for his work by being named the GNAC Defender of the Week. The Seattle native recorded seven total saves and allowed just one late goal in the match at Western Washington. Valdez had the shutout against Simon Fraser with two saves and totaled five stops against the Vikings.

The 5-foot-10 second year Wolf, who transfered to Western Oregon in 2025 from Utah Valley, leads the GNAC with a 0.79 save percentage. This is the second GNAC Defender of the Week honor this season for Valdez and the third of his career.

"Austin has been amazing this year," said his coach Andrew May. "Any time the team has needed him to come up with a big save, he has made it. His save right at halftime against Simon Fraser was tops and gave us the momentum into the second half. He is a leader on this team that keeps everybody accountable while getting the best out of them."

Valdez and the Wolves will head to his hometown of Seattle this weekend for the GNAC Championships at Interbay Stadium. WOU will take on the Seattle Pacific-Simon Fraser winner in the championship at 7 pm on Saturday night.