Hammer Wins BAA, NWC Honors Despite Bruins’ Tough Week on Scoreboard

NEWBERG, Ore. – Although the George Fox Bruins dropped two tough games this past weekend, Luke Hammer kept the Bruins in each with offensive performances that have earned him both the Bruin Athletic Association Men’s Athlete of the Week and the Northwest Conference Men’s Soccer Student-Athlete of the Week awards for Oct. 10-16.

In a 3-2 loss to Willamette on Oct. 15, Hammer scored both Bruin goals.  The first came in the 36th minute from five yards out following a long run and cross by Brennan Altringer and tied the game 1-1.  The second came two-and-a-half minutes from the end from five yards away after a through ball from Christian Reed and cut the Bearcat lead to one.  On ct. 16, he put the Bruins ahead 1-0 in the 27th minute with a goal from five yards out after a cross from the right by Michael Graham in an eventual 2-1 loss to Linfield.  For the week, he took six shots, five on goal, and connected on three of them for six total points.

Hammer, a freshman from Roseburg, Ore., leads the Bruins and is tied for third in the conference in goals scored (7), tied for fifth in total points (15), and ranks sixth in shots (29).  This is his second BAA award of the season, having been honored previously for the week of Sept. 5-11, when he was also honorable mention for NWC offensive honors.

Hammer and the rest of the Bruins will be back in action this weekend as they make the NWC eastern Washington swing, taking on Whitworth University on Saturday in Spokane, Wash., and Whitman College on Sunday in Walla Walla, Wash.  Both games kick off at 2:30 p.m. following NWC women’s games at 12:00 noon.

The George Fox Athlete of the Week Award for both men and women is presented throughout the Bruin sports seasons by the Bruin Athletic Association, whose mission is to provide George Fox student-athletes with an outstanding athletic and academic experience and to strengthen the overall competitiveness of the Bruin athletics program.  For more information about the organization or to become a member, visit the Bruin Athletic Association website. 

2011-12 Bruin Athletic Association Men’s Athletes of the Week

Aug. 29-Sept. 4 - Jacob Baker (Soccer)

Sept. 5-11 - Luke Hammer (Soccer)

Sept. 12-18 - Mike Ulstad (Golf)

Sept. 19-25 - Shawn Aldrich (Tennis)

Sept. 26-Oct. 2 - Joseph Pia (Cross Country)

Oct. 3-9 - Chris Lumsden (Golf)

Oct. 10-16 - Luke Hammer (Soccer)