Nathan Aune is keeping it all in the family — both for his school and Snohomish County.
Aune, a graduate of Arlington High School and a member of the Seattle University men’s soccer team, was named the Western Athletic Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year during the WAC awards banquet held last Tuesday in Las Vegas.
Aune, a junior, has started 20 of the Redhawks’ 21 games this season in central defense.
A second-team All-WAC selection the last two seasons, Aune helped the Redhawks, ranked No. 23 in the United Soccer Coaches poll, post nine shutouts so far this season.
Aune also chipped in with three goals and an assist, including scoring a goal in Seattle’s 2-1 victory over San Jose State in the WAC Championship game Sunday in Las Vegas, which earned the Redhawks a berth in the NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Tournament.
Aune made it three straight years in which a Redhawks player was named the WAC Defensive Player of the Year.
The previous two years the award was also won by a Snohomish County native, as it was given to Glacier Peak High School graduate Kyle Bjornethun in both 2015 and 2016.
Aune was one of two Redhawks to be named first-team All-WAC, along with senior midfielder Alex Roldan.
“It’s great to see these guys get this recognition,” Redhawks coach Pete Fewing said in a press release. “It’s well-deserved. They work hard and it’s fantastic to see that rewarded.”
Aune and the Redhawks (14-3-4) face Washington in the first round of the NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Tournament at 6 p.m. Thursday at Husky Soccer Stadium in Seattle.
Washington won 2-0 when the teams played on Sept. 24.
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